Sonoran Desert Cacti

Compass Barrel

Ferocactus cylindraceus

Fishhook Barrel Cactus

Ferocactus wislizenii

Usually single-stemmed and usu. < 2 meters tall, occas. to 4 m. Yellow flowers in late spring. The central spine may be strongly curved, but is not hooked. Found throughout much of the Sonoran Desert, but more common in northern and western portions. Detailed Description

Usually single-stemmed and usu. < 2 meters tall, occas. to 3 m. Deep orange flowers in summer months. Central spine is strongly hooked. Found throughout much of the Sonoran Desert, but more common in southern and eastern portions. This image is hosted at Wikipedia.    Detailed Description

Engelmann Hedgehog Cactus

Echinocereus engelmannii

Graham's Pincushion Cactus

Mammillaria grahamii

Clumps of straight stems - sometimes as many as three dozen -about 50 cm tall. Flowers large and very showy appear mid to late spring. Densly covered with long spines. Common through much of the Sonoran Desert with variations in flower color and spine length. Detailed Description

Small cacti appearing as a single stem, or more commonly several clumping together. From each areole one spine is sharply hook-shaped. Showy flowers oversized for size of plant. Common on rockys slopes and often in partial shade of bursage or other desert shrubs. Common throughout the Sonoran Desert. Many varieties named based on flower color shades, length and number of spines and degree of clumping. Detailed Description