Cactus Flowers

Bright colors in our desert

Here are a few cactus flowers that I’ve seen over this summer. The Saguaros were all blooming in April and May. On one of my morning walks, I passed a Saguaro which had an arm that dropped down to eye level. Saguaro flowers bloom at night and wither during their first day. They are 24-hour wonders.

The creamy white petals surround a yellow center. Saguaro flowers provide rich nectar and nutritious pollen for desert animals.

The Thistle plant is not a cactus but because it is so spiny I’m including it with the other “cacti” to showcase its beautiful flower. This flower was in the Tanque Verde Wash in July.

In May, the Prickly Pear in my yard began flowering.

In June the Cholla began flowering.

A Pincushion Cactus waits until the first summer rains to bloom. A small nondescript cactus, it blends into the desert landscape until those showy blooms appear.

The Fishhook Barrel Cacti bloom in the late summer. Often this coincides with the beginning of the summer rains. The ring of flowers that bloom atop a Barrel Cactus is called a crown. Each flower stays open for a few days and the plant continues to bloom with flowers over several weeks.

The vivid colors and soft petals of the Barrel’s flowers contrast with the thick, sharp, fish hook-shaped spines surrounding them.

During a July walk in Madera Canyon, we came across a Tree Cholla with beautiful pink flowers.

During the summers, Cactus flowers in our harsh dry desert are very special. They arrive on plants with extreme survival traits and show a sudden, bold splash of color.