Photo Gallery (U.S. National Park Service)

Cactus Flowers

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This cactus usually resembles dead sticks, but for one night only, each year, this incredible blossom smells like a rose.

Night-blooming Cereus Cactus

1632 x 2448
1.3 MB

The Nichol's Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus nicholii) is a rare sight in Organ Pipe, the only park in NPS where it grows naturally.

Nichol's Hedgehog Cactus

734 x 979
0.7 MB

The bright red flowers of the Emory's Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus emoryi) are a sight to behold in the middle of summer.

Fishhook Barrel Cactus Flower

734 x 979
0.5 MB

Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus are fairly common in the park as are their blossoms in the spring.

Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus Fl...

734 x 979
0.5 MB

The Organ Pipe Cactus (Stenocereus thurberi) has a beautiful flower, but you better get up early to see it for the flowers of this night blooming cactus usually close up by 8:30 in the morning.

Organ Pipe Cactus Flower

979 x 734
0.4 MB

The flowers of the Arizona Pincushion Cactus form a beautiful ring around the top of the cactus.

Arizona Pincushion Cactus Flow...

572 x 720
0.3 MB

By far one of the most common plants of the desert, the Englemann's Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii) gets covered with flowers every spring.

Englemann's Prickly Pear Cactu...

734 x 979
0.4 MB

The giant Saguaro Cactus (Carnegia gigantea) flowers bloom at night, but remain open most of the next day, which makes them a common and beautiful sight during late spring and early summer.

Saguaro Cactus Flower

734 x 979
0.4 MB

The Senita Cactus (Pachycereus schottii), found mostly in Mexico, has a beautiful bloom that opens at night and closes quickly in the morning.

Senita Cactus Flower

979 x 734
0.4 MB

The flower of the Staghorn Cholla (Cylindropunta versicolor) is not only pretty to the eye it is healthy too. The buds of this plant are an excellent source of calcium.

Staghorn Cholla Flower

734 x 979
0.4 MB

Teddy-bear Cholla (Cylindropunta bigelovii) are one of the more spine covered of all desert plants, luckily for us the spines don't hide the flowers.

Teddy-bear Cholla Flower

857 x 1053
0.5 MB

The bright red flowers of the Fishhook Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus wislizenii) are a sight to behold in the middle of summer.

Fishhook Barrel Cactus

734 x 979
0.5 MB

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