Cactus and Succulent Society of New Zealand (CSSNZ) Inc.

Cactus Genera for the beginner


Some genera appear on more than one list, eg Rebutia are easy to grow and flower without any effect. Also Mammillaria, which is a huge genus, has both easy to grow as well as hard to grow species.

For a complete list of cacti genera see Kew Gardens site.

Easiest to Grow

  • Echinopsis and hybrids
  • Gymnocalycium
  • Mammillaria (some)
  • Notocactus
  • Opuntia
  • Rebutia
  • most ceroids

Flowering

  • Echinocereus
  • Echinopsis and hybrids
  • Epiphyllum and hybrids
  • Gymnocalycium
  • Lobivia
  • Mammillaria
  • Notocactus
  • Rebutia
  • Schlumbergera
  • Sulcorebutia
  • Thelocactus

Spination

  • Cephalocereus ... senilis (hair)
  • Cereus
  • Cleistocactus ... strausii (hair)
  • Copiapoa
  • Echinocactus
  • Echinocereus (multi-coloured and/or pectinate spines)
  • Echinofossulocactus
  • Epithelantha micromeris
  • Espostoa (hair)
  • Ferocactus
  • Gymnocalycium
  • Leuchtenbergia principis
  • Mammillaria some hooked, pectinate or plumose spines
  • Matucana
  • Neoporteria
  • Notocactus
  • Oreocereus (hair)
  • Pelecyphora pectinate spines
  • Sulcorebutia (Rebutia) pectinate spines
  • Thelocactus
  • Uebelmannia

Architectural

  • Astrophytum ... asterias, capricorne, myriostigma, ornatum
  • Cereus
  • Echinocactus
  • Leuchtenbergia princips
  • Myrtillocactus
  • Opuntia
  • Pilosocereus
  • Trichocereus

A Challenge

  • Ariocarpus ... fissuratus etc.
  • Aztekium ritteri
  • Blossfeldiana lilliputa
  • Copiapoa
  • Epithelantha
  • Mammillaria (some)
  • Melocactus
  • Pelecyphora
  • Strombocactus
  • Turbinicarpus
  • Uebelmannia