Cactus photos

Cardon cactus, near La Paz, Baja California, Mexico. Known as the elephant cactus or Mexican giant cactus, cardon is largest cactus in the world and is endemic to the deserts of the Baja California peninsula. Some specimens of cardon have been measured over 21m (70) high. These slow-growing plants live up to 300 years and can weigh 25 tons. Cardon is often mistaken for the superficially similar saguaro of Arizona and Sonora, but the saguaro does not occupy Baja California.
Species: Cardon cactus, Elephant cactus, Pachycereus pringlei
Location: La Paz, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 05498  

Barrel cactus, brittlebush and wildflowers color the sides of Glorietta Canyon. Heavy winter rains led to a historic springtime bloom in 2005, carpeting the entire desert in vegetation and color for months.
Species: Red barrel cactus, Encelia farinosa, Ferocactus cylindraceus
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 10899  

Barrel cactus, Glorietta Canyon. Heavy winter rains led to a historic springtime bloom in 2005, carpeting the entire desert in vegetation and color for months.
Species: Red barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 10906  

Red barrel cactus, Glorietta Canyon, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Species: Red barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 24302  

Red barrel flower bloom, cactus detail, spines and flower on top of the cactus, Glorietta Canyon, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Species: Red barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 24303  

Barrel cactus, Glorietta Canyon. Heavy winter rains led to a historic springtime bloom in 2005, carpeting the entire desert in vegetation and color for months.
Species: Red barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 10905  

Red barrel cactus detail, spines on top of the cactus, Glorietta Canyon, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Species: Red barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 24308  

Cholla cactus, sunrise, dawn, Palm Canyon, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Species: Cholla cactus, Opuntia
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 24305  

Teddy-Bear cholla cactus. This species is covered with dense spines and pieces easily detach and painfully attach to the skin of distracted passers-by.
Species: Teddy-bear cholla, Opuntia bigelovii
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California
Image ID: 11981  

Cactus flowers bloom, on top of a barrel cactus, with the town of Borrego Springs in the distance.
Species: Red barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 24306  

Red barrel cactus, Glorietta Canyon, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Species: Red barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 24307  

Red barrel flower bloom, cactus detail, spines and flower on top of the cactus, Glorietta Canyon, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Species: Red barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 24309  

Cactus and lava field, Punta Espinosa.
Location: Fernandina Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Image ID: 05585  

Barrel cactus, brittlebush and wildflowers color the sides of Glorietta Canyon. Heavy winter rains led to a historic springtime bloom in 2005, carpeting the entire desert in vegetation and color for months.
Species: Red barrel cactus, Encelia farinosa, Ferocactus cylindraceus
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 10894  

Barrel cactus, brittlebush and wildflowers color the sides of Glorietta Canyon. Heavy winter rains led to a historic springtime bloom in 2005, carpeting the entire desert in vegetation and color for months.
Species: Red barrel cactus, Encelia farinosa, Ferocactus cylindraceus
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 10902  

Beavertail cactus bloom. Heavy winter rains led to a historic springtime bloom in 2005, carpeting the entire desert in vegetation and color for months.
Species: Beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 10928  

Barrel cactus bloom. Heavy winter rains led to a historic springtime bloom in 2005, carpeting the entire desert in vegetation and color for months.
Species: Red barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 10934  

Buckhorn cholla cactus, sunset, near Borrego Valley.
Species: Buckhorn cholla cactus, Opuntia acanthocarpa
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 10971  

Buckhorn cholla cactus, sunset, near Borrego Valley.
Species: Buckhorn cholla cactus, Opuntia acanthocarpa
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 10972  

Buckhorn cholla cactus, sunset, near Borrego Valley.
Species: Buckhorn cholla cactus, Opuntia acanthocarpa
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 10974  

Beavertail cactus blooms in spring.
Species: Beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California
Image ID: 11930  

Beavertail cactus blooms in spring.
Species: Beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California
Image ID: 11931  

Beavertail cactus blooms in spring.
Species: Beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California
Image ID: 11932  

Beavertail cactus blooms in spring.
Species: Beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California
Image ID: 11933  

Teddy-Bear cholla blooms in spring. This species is covered with dense spines and pieces easily detach and painfully attach to the skin of distracted passers-by.
Species: Teddy-bear cholla, Opuntia bigelovii
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California
Image ID: 11934  

Teddy-Bear cholla blooms in spring. This species is covered with dense spines and pieces easily detach and painfully attach to the skin of distracted passers-by.
Species: Teddy-bear cholla, Opuntia bigelovii
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California
Image ID: 11935  

Hedgehog cactus blooms in spring.
Species: Hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California
Image ID: 11936  

Hedgehog cactus blooms in spring.
Species: Hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California
Image ID: 11937  

Hedgehog cactus blooms in spring.
Species: Hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California
Image ID: 11938  

Hedgehog cactus blooms in spring.
Species: Hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California
Image ID: 11939