Medusa Cactus

A Medusa Cactus with long, thin, grayish stems and a large, pale yellow flower blooming at the top sits in its pot, surrounded by blurred greenery in the background.

Ben brought in his gorgeous specimen Astrophytum caput-medusae, although he prefers to go by the name Digitostigma caput-medusae, which is considered a non-recognized name by the science boards that decide these things.

Ben says we may have some available to sell at the Cactus Jungle in a year or two. Nice! Thanks, Ben.

The horns are the cactus’ tubercles, i.e. what in most cactus are little bumps on or along the stems, here have gone wild and formed these giant spotted horns.

And the flower is cresting! Another closeup of the flower after the jump… Read More…

Epiphyllum

A close-up of a vibrant red-orange flower with pointed petals and white-tipped stamens, blooming on a cactus. Potted plants and a table are visible in the blurred background.

Our first epi flower  of the year has opened and its red! Cactus flowers for everyone!

San Pedro Cactus, California

Tall San Pedro Cactus stems with large white flowers bloom in front of a beige stucco building with a red-tiled roof and wooden supports, under the clear California sky.

We’ve had such stunning blossoms from this cactus we purchased from you 3 years ago. Thought you’d like to see our biggest crop yet! The photo was taken today.

Carol, Los Altos Hills, CA

Rock Cactus 

A close-up of a cactus with rough, textured gray-green skin and a large, vibrant pink flower blooming in the center, surrounded by small reddish-brown rocks.

Ariocarpus fissuratus is a geophytic star-shaped cactus from Texas. This one is pretty old, and the most perfect flower I’ve ever seen on an Ariocarpus. Won’t generally bloom unless they’re 10 plus years old. I’d guess this one is closer to 20.

Eve’s Needles

A close-up of a pink and white cactus flower blooming on a green cactus. In the blurred background, there is a sign that partially reads Cactus Jungle Nursery & Garden.

Austrocylindropuntia subulata bloom at the Cactus Jungle. Everyone loves a cactus flower!

Origin: Peru, Argentina And Bolivia<

Description: Andean tree cholla gets 12 feet tall in habitat but can reach 25 feet in Bay Area, tubular leaves, long spines. Creates a very effective living fence. The fruit often drop and root in place.

We’re Back!

A close-up of a brevispinus cactus with sharp spines and a bright magenta-pink flower blooming at the top, set in a pot with gravel. The blurred background enhances the vivid Echinocereus enneacanthus flower.

That’s been a bit of awhile. But the blog is redesigned, the whole Cactus Jungle site is redesigned, and now we’re back!

Here, have a plant!

Echinocereus enneacanthus ssp brevispinus
Strawberry Cactus
Texas, New Mexico; Mexico

Description: Clusters of 2-4″ stems. Strawberry-red flowers. Rot-prone – keep dry in winter.

Characteristics:
Hardy to 10F
Full Sun
Low Water

Weedy Cactus

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Jess slowly weeding the spiniest of cactus! Photobombed by Jeremiah! Nice.

Hybrid Cactus

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That’s a beautiful Denmoza x Cleistocactus hybrid! Sweet.

As seen at the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena.

Playing with Cactus

Musicians have been playing with cactus ever since John Cage wrote a piece for cactus many years ago. Probably people were playing cactus even longer ago than that, but there you go – John Cage gets all the credit.

Farkas, 30, plays percussion

instruments such as marimba and snare drum, but nothing captures attention like playing the spines of a cactus in a pot….

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As strange as it may sound to others, Farkas said, cactus playing is a thing in the percussion world — mostly thanks to avant-garde composer and music theorist John Cage. Cage’s “Child of Tree,” composed in 1975, uses instruments made of plant materials, including the cactus. 

Best if all this particular article comes with instructions! Now you can know how to play the cactus yourself!

How to Play the Cactus

1. Get a cactus with long, evenly spread spines.

2. Make a contact microphone using a piezoelectric transducer, plug it into an amplifier and attach it to one of the cactus spines.

3. Use your fingers or other objects to pluck or rub the spines to create sound. Bonus points for rhythm without injury.

Electrified!

Cactus Flower

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Another picture of a Parodia nivosa in bloom. So much pretty.

And a bonus photo! Of a perfect fall day in Central Park in New York. Nice!

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Blooming San Pedro Cactus

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Dominic shares his first bloom off a Cactus Jungle San Pedro cactus in the heat today in Pinole. Nice. Hot.

Thanks, Dominic.

ID'ing a Beehive Cactus

Hello again Peter,

Hoping you could ID some succulents for me

My gf has been trying to search for their IDs and is stumped.

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Appreciate your assistance as always!

Jess

Jess,

You have there a very adorable little Beehive Cactus, a Coryphantha difficilis.

Peter

We are Happy Plants

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We Are Happy Plants is a band that posts pictures of happy plants on their Facebook page. Like this photo of a car with cactus. Car…. Cactus…. What could go wrong?!?

April 2026
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