The fascinating world of cacti offers a great wealth of different species. These differ in their appearance and in their needs in terms of care, temperature, substrate and location. Not all types of cacti can be easily cultivated on the windowsill, some only feel comfortable under glass or in a greenhouse. However, you can cultivate the cactus species in this list without hesitation in the living room.

16 beautiful and easy-care cactus species

The cacti species included in this list are characterized by their uncomplicated requirements. The species mentioned can easily be cultivated in the living room at home, provided the location and the substrate are right.

Cactus species with B

Armed Cereus (Armatocereus mataranus)

The Armed Cereus is closely related to the cactus species Armatocereus balsaensis and Armatocereus rauhii, which are also very suitable for indoor cultivation.

  • Origin: This cactus comes from Peru
  • Growth form: tree-like, branching columnar cactus
  • Height/ width: can be between three and nine meters high and up to 20 centimeters thick
  • Spines: Spines up to four inches long, arranged in clusters of three to eight
  • Flowers: white or red funnel-shaped flowers, up to nine centimeters long, nocturnal
  • Location: full sun and warm, also for partial shade
  • Substrate: mineral, permeable
  • Care: water regularly and vigorously, shower off occasionally on hot days
  • Hibernation: light and almost dry with temperatures between eight and 14 °C

Bishop's Hat (Astrophytum myriostigma var. nude)

This attractive cactus is one of the most well-known cactus species. It is also commercially available under the name Star Cactus. There are also numerous varieties or cultivated forms.

  • Origin: Mexico
  • Growth form: cactus that grows spherically and becomes cylindrical when old
  • Height/ width: up to 60 centimeters high
  • Thorns: none, but numerous white flakes all over the body
  • Flower: Light yellow to yellow, shiny funnel-shaped flowers, between four and six centimeters long
  • Location: sunny and warm, only in exceptional cases semi-shady
  • Substrate: mineral and clayey, add gypsum
  • Care: water moderately but regularly
  • Hibernation: light and dry at approx. 12 °C

Cacti with F

Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica)

The prickly pear is popular mainly because of its tasty fruits. The prickly pears are also often available in our supermarkets. The plant also contains a whole range of active substances, e.g. the psychedelic compound mescaline. You can cultivate the species in the living room, but it grows particularly well in the conservatory or greenhouse. Here, too, it can take on enormous proportions.

  • Origin: originally Central and South America, but now also occurs in Australia and the Mediterranean region
  • Growth form: cactus that grows in the form of a shrub to a tree with the ear-shaped shoots typical of Opuntia
  • Height/width: up to five meters high growing wild, individual segments up to 50 centimeters long and 20 centimeters wide
  • Thorns: rare
  • Flower: yellow to orange funnel-shaped flowers, up to seven centimeters long and ten centimeters wide
  • Location: sunny and warm, likes to be outdoors during the summer
  • Substrate: well drained and loamy
  • Care: water regularly and vigorously, spray occasionally
  • Hibernation: light and dry with temperatures between five and ten degrees Celsius

Rock cactus (Cereus peruvianus syn. Cereus uruguayensis)

The monstrous species (e.g. Cereus peruvianus var. monstrosus) are the most well-known and popular of this cactus. Because these are characterized by a particularly decorative appearance and are very easy to care for.

  • Origin: Brazil, Peru
  • Growth form: richly branching columnar cactus
  • Height/ Width: In their homeland, these cactus species grow up to three meters high and 18 centimeters wide.
  • Spines: between four and seven radial spines and one to three central spines, each up to about two centimeters long and brown
  • Flowers: white funnel-shaped flowers, up to 16 centimeters long, bloom at night
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady, warm
  • Substrate: rich in nutrients and humic
  • Care: water regularly and vigorously
  • Hibernation: bright and not completely dry at around 12 °C

cacti with G

Gold Column (Notocactus leninghausii)

Also known as the humpback cactus or golden ball cactus, this pretty species is very popular. The genus Notocactus has since been placed in the genus Parodia, which is why the plant is sometimes sold under the botanical name Parodia leninghausii.

  • Homeland: Brazil
  • Growth form: spherical to columnar, often sprouting, the crooked apex is characteristic
  • Height/ width: up to one meter high and ten centimeters wide when old
  • Thorns: up to 15 radial spines, up to one centimeter long, up to four central spines, up to four centimeters long, characteristically golden yellow colour
  • Flower: yellow, funnel-shaped to bell-shaped, up to five centimeters long and six centimeters wide
  • Location: sunny and warm, protect from direct sunlight
  • Substrate: well drained, nutritious, humic
  • Care: Water vigorously during the growing season
  • Hibernation: bright and not completely dry at temperatures between 10 and 15 °C
Source: © Roland Fischer, Zurich (Switzerland) - Mail notification to: roland_zh(at)hispeed(dot)ch / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0 Unported, Botanical Garden of the University of Zurich after renovation - 'Tiefland' - Parodia leninghausii 2014-03-08 14-51-26, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Old man's head (Cephalocereus senilis)

The characteristic white bristle hairs that weave the entire body of this cactus are responsible for the common name.

  • Origin: Mexico
  • Growth form: branched columnar cactus
  • Height/ width: up to 15 meters high and 40 centimeters wide, but the slow-growing plant on the window sill only rarely reaches a height of one meter
  • Thorns: Up to 30 white radial spines, up to 12 centimeters long and up to five yellowish central spines, up to five centimeters long
  • Flowers: white-yellowish funnel-shaped flowers, up to ten centimeters long and eight centimeters wide, bloom at night
  • Location: very sunny and warm, best under glass
  • Substrate: well drained and slightly chalky
  • Care: water regularly, but very sparingly. Let the substrate dry out occasionally
  • Hibernation: bright and not completely dry at 10 to 15 °C

Types of H - O

Rabbit Ear Cactus (Opuntia microdasys)

It has its funny name for a reason, after all it is one of the most visually striking cactus species. The shoots are - typical for opuntias - thickened like ears. However, be careful when handling this plant, because the small clusters of glochids get stuck in the skin in a flash and are difficult to remove again.

  • Origin: Mexico
  • Growth form: shrubby
  • Height/ width: up to 60 centimeters high, individual links up to 15 centimeters long
  • Thorns: none, but numerous yellow glochids
  • Flowers: yellow funnel-shaped flowers, up to five centimeters long and just as wide
  • Location: sunny and warm, likes to be outdoors during the summer months
  • Substrate: well drained and loamy
  • Care: water regularly and vigorously, spray occasionally
  • Hibernation: light and dry with temperatures between five and ten degrees Celsius

Coral cactus (Hatiora salicornioides)

This attractive, bushy growing cactus with club-shaped shoots is also available under the name Club-rush cactus. It is one of the very slow-growing cactus species.

  • Homeland: Brazil
  • Growth form: bushy, epiphytic (epiphytic plant)
  • Height/width: shoots up to one meter long, consisting of many individual segments, each up to three centimeters long
  • Thorns: none, instead white bristles spring from the areoles
  • Flower: yellow funnel-shaped flowers, up to 1.5 centimeters long
  • Location: partially shaded and warm
  • Substrate: cactus soil enriched with peat
  • Care: regular but moderate
  • Overwintering: light at around 10 °C, water sparingly

10. Easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri)

This very easy to care for and popular cactus is also often offered in the trade under the old botanical name Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri. There are numerous hybrid forms.

  • Homeland: Brazil
  • Growth form: shrubby, mostly overhanging and branching in old age
  • Height/ width: up to 2.5 centimeters wide and seven centimeters long leaf segments
  • Spines: up to 12 bristly spines per areole
  • Flower: Scarlet funnel-shaped flowers, up to 7.5 centimeters long
  • Location: thrives in almost any location from full sun to partial shade
  • Substrate: well drained, nutritious, humic
  • Care: water vigorously and regularly during the summer months
  • Hibernation: not completely dry at about ten degrees Celsius

Cactus species from P - R

whip cactus (Aporocactus flagelliformis)

  • Origin: Mexico
  • Growth form: upright to overhanging, branching epiphyte
  • Height/ Width: Shoots up to 150 centimeters long and two centimeters thick
  • Thorns: up to 20 initially reddish, later brown thorns
  • Flower: pink or red, up to ten centimeters long
  • Location: Partial shade, as airy as possible
  • Substrate: rich in humus, well drained
  • Care: no waterlogging, water every two to three weeks, high humidity, fertilize once a month
  • Hibernation: bright and at least 12 °C
Source: Captain-tucker, Disocactus flagelliformis flower, Edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Rod cactus (Rhipsalis pilocarpa)

At first glance, the rod cactus is not necessarily one of the typical cactus species. This variety grows like a bush and forms numerous branches.

  • Homeland: Brazil
  • Growth form: shrubby
  • Height/ Width: The hanging shoots are up to 12 centimeters long and six millimeters thick.
  • spines: up to ten bristly hairy spines
  • Flowers: white to yellowish-white radial flowers, up to 2.5 centimeters wide, appear in winter
  • Location: partially shaded, no direct sunlight
  • Substrate: sandy with peat
  • Care: water preferably with rainwater, fertilize every 14 days with flower fertilizer
  • Overwintering: water less between the beginning of September and the end of October, no further hibernation
Source: Gerbil, Rhipsalis pilocarpa, flowering 01, Edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Cactus species with S

Mother-in-law chair (Echinocactus grusonii)

The species, also known as the mother-in-law's seat, is probably one of the best known and most popular types of cactus. It can then become quite wide with age.

  • Origin: Mexico
  • Growth form: spherical, often short-cylindrical when old
  • Height/ width: up to 150 centimeters high and 80 centimeters wide
  • Spines: between eight to ten radial spines, oblique and up to three centimeters long, three to five central spines, curved and up to five centimeters long, all pale yellowish to cream colored
  • Flower: yellow funnel-shaped flowers, up to six centimeters long, but rarely appear in cultivation
  • Location: sunny and warm, likes to be outdoors during the summer months
  • Substrate: permeable
  • Care: always water very sparingly, but never let it dry out completely
  • Hibernation: bright, dry, not below ten degrees Celsius

Sea urchin cactus (Astrophytum asterias)

There are other types of cactus that are also known as "sea urchin cactus". These include, for example, the various species from the genus Echinopsis.

  • Origin: Mexico, USA
  • Growth form: spherical cactus with a flattened, bluish-green body
  • Height/ width: up to six centimeters high and ten centimeters wide
  • Thorns: none, instead white felted, thick areoles
  • Flower: yellow funnel-shaped flowers, up to three centimeters long
  • Location: sunny and warm, only in exceptional cases semi-shady
  • Substrate: mineral and rich in clay, ideally add some gypsum
  • Care: water moderately but regularly
  • Hibernation: light and dry at approx. 12 °C

Species with W

Wax torch cactus (Cereus spegazzinii) Cereus spegazzinii

This cactus is one of the types of cacti with bizarre growth forms, which, however, are very decorative. Beautiful Cristat forms are often commercially available, which are then usually offered under their old botanical name Monvillea spegazzinii. These plants are also suitable for the living room culture, but less for the windowsill because of their sprawling shoots. A climbing aid is an advantage.

  • Origin: Argentina, Paraguay
  • Growth form: climbing, shrubby or prostrate cactus
  • Height/ Width: Shoots are up to two meters long and two centimeters wide
  • Spines: between three and five dark brown radial spines, up to four millimeters short, occasional central spine up to 15 millimeters long
  • Flowers: white to pink funnel-shaped flowers, up to 13 centimeters long
  • Location: sunny and warm, half-shade is also possible
  • Substrate: well drained and humic
  • Care: water regularly and vigorously, always keep the substrate slightly moist, fertilize monthly between April and August
  • Hibernation: bright and not completely dry at around ten degrees Celsius

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera species)

The various Schlumbergera species and their hybrid forms are all referred to as "Christmas cacti", although originally only the species Schlumbergera truncata and its hybrids were so called.

  • Homeland: Brazil
  • Growth form: bushy to shrubby, profusely branching, overhanging when old
  • Height/ Width: The leaf-like individual members are up to six centimeters long and three centimeters wide. The individual shoots can grow up to a meter long.
  • Thorns: usually none
  • Flowers: red, violet, white-pink or pale orange, up to three inches long depending on the species, appear in December
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady, warm
  • Substrate: rich in humus, acidic
  • Care: Always keep the substrate moist, ideally use rainwater for watering
  • Hibernation: no hibernation

Cactus species with Z

Dwarf Cereus (Echinopsis chamaecereus)

These cacti are also known by their trivial names sausage cactus or caterpillar cactus, referring to their characteristic appearance. The pretty minis are also often commercially available under their old botanical names Chamaecereus silvestrii or Lobivia silvestrii. A variety of this species, commonly called Chamaecereus silvestrii var. aurea, is a chlorophyllless mutation. It is characterized by yellow to orange shoots, which is why it is often offered as a banana cactus. Due to the lack of chlorophyll, this plant can only survive grafted.

  • Origin: Argentina
  • Growth form: cylindrical cactus, develops sprouts, partly prostrate
  • Height/ Width: Shoots can grow up to ten centimeters long
  • Spines: between 10 to 15 radial spines, up to two millimeters long, no central spines
  • Flower: vermillion funnel-shaped flowers, between five and seven centimeters long, appear laterally
  • Location: sunny and warm, likes to be outdoors during the summer months
  • Substrate: rich in nutrients, mineral, slightly acidic
  • Care: Water plentifully during the growing season, but avoid waterlogging
  • Hibernation: light and dry at about ten degrees Celsius
Source: el cajon yacht club from el cajon, san diego, Chamaecereus silvestrii (15003963256), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY 2.0

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