Cactus

A golden barrel cactus needs no drip system and can rely soley on rainwater.

Cactus are incredible creatures. They have adapted to some of the roughest weather and soil conditions in the world and still manage to produce breathtaking flowers and (sometimes, even edible) fruits.

Few plants can lend such drama to a garden as cacti and euphorbias while needing so little in return.

The cactus family (Cactaceae) is one of the world's largest families of succulents. There are over 2,500 species and new ones are discovered often.

Most people think cactus have spines simply to ward off critters, but that is only part of the reason. The 'thorns' also provide shade from the brutal summer sun, slows down air movement over the epidermis to lessen water loss and insulate against frost. When humidity is present in the air they collect moisture and feed it down to the roots.

Like many other desert plants the cactus relies on wind for seed dispersal. Seeds have tiny hairs or tissue-thin coverings which allow for the seeds to burst out into the landscape or be carried away on a windy day. Some species even rely on rainfall to hit the seeds and force them away from the plant.

The main thing to remember about watering a cactus is less is more. It is *very* easy to kill a cactus with too much water, but forgetting to water it, going on vacation or anything else life throws at us will most likely not harm the cactus at all. When in doubt, let it dry out.

Click on the thumb to gain more information about each desert shrub: