On the other hand, the occurrence of cacti Readers may find that the native range of cacti is more restricted than they previously thought in terms of world-wide distribution. Within each, there exists more specific micro-climates and conditions which host species uniquely suited for thoseĬonditions. This overview touches on some of the general environments where cacti occur. Left: Hylocereus growing in a tree in Nicaragua Larger than any found in the wetter, but cooler deserts such as the Great Basin Desert. Wide berth because of the low moisture, but surprisingly they can become relatively large plants. Yet, cacti survive here due to a dense and heavy fog that condenses on plants and rocks and drips down into the soil. In some areas, there has been no rainfallĪt all in recorded history. The Atacama desert in Chile is the driest place on earth. In comparison to the deserts of Western South America. All of the deserts of North America are 'mild' This again limits the dispersion and sustainable size of the cactus that live within each area. Both of these have more limited moisture than the Sonoran, but also have colder temperatures due Other deserts in North America include the Great Basin, and Chihuahuan. Right: The Mojave Desert is stark by comparisson. Left: The Sonoran Desert grows large cactus due to summer rains Result, cactus plants are smaller and more spread out as they compete for the limited moisture. Meanwhile the Mojave desert in California experiences only winter rain while it is hot and dry the rest of the year. The density and overall larger size of plants here is due in most part to summer monsoons which bring rain up from the Gulf of In the Sonoran,ĭesert many species of cacti can be found from the giant Saguaro to small Mammillaria species along with Ferocatus, and many Opuntiads all within only a few feet of each other and inĪssociation with other desert plants like Palo Verde. To start with, the Sonora Desert of Arizona and Northern Mexico is extremely lush in comparison to the Mojave desert to the west.

While 'Desert' is the always the first thing that comes to mind when someone thinks of cactus habitat, this term is far too broad and too limiting in comparison to the actual Right: Bergerocactus at Sea Level, Baja California, Mexico Left: Opuntia at 11,000ft, White Moutains, CA Examples of this are Opuntia polyacantha var. Additionally, high-altitude plants are often particularly spiny or wooly to help shield from the high UV due to As would be expected, the high altitude plants areĪlso low growing plants similar to those at the far northern and far southern latitudes.

In South America on the Western edge of the Andes mountains, cacti grow even higher at 15,000 feet (4500 meters) elevation. North America, cactus can be found growing up to at least 11,000 feet (3350 meters) in the mountains of California particularly the White Mountains, and possibly even higher in some areas of the The Tropic of Cancer into the Southwestern United States and pushing south of the Tropic of Capricorn into Northern Argentina.Ĭactus plants are found at sea-level growing down along the coast of both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans as well as low-altitude inland areas such as Death Valley California. The larger, barrel-shaped, columnar, and Tree-like plants that are the stereotypical representatives of the family are mostly confined with in the tropics, extending somewhat north of Maiheniopsis darwinii, Maihuenia patagonica, To the extreme Southern tip of South America, one also finds the low-growing Only a half-dozen or so hardy species areĪble to survive this climate and those that do are low-growing, fairly inconspicuous plants. In the drier, milder western range, cacti can be found further north than in the east. To the North, cacti are found across southern Canada from Ontario to the East to British Columbia in the Within the Americas, some species of cacti are found at latitudes that many find surprising. Note: To view cacti by location, use the Geographic Distribution Search. Rhipsalis baccifera, anĮpiphytic species is the sole exception that can be found in Madagascar, Tropical Africa, Seychelles, Mauritius, Reunion, and Sri Lanka as well as Tropical America. This range includes North and South America, CentralĪmerica, and the adjacent Islands such as the Caribbean and Galapagos islands. The natural distribution of cactus species occurs exclusively in the New World with a single exception. Geographic Distribution & Habitats of the Cactus Family These nurseries list available plants on the guide as well as other specials here under nursery listings.

Cactus and tropicals