Opuntia basilaris brachyclada

The local form of Opuntia basilaris from the mountains North of San Bernardino, CA

Pediocactis winkleri

This tiny cactus in nature looks nothing like tall or multi-headed blobs often seen in cultivation, when grown on grafts. Plants grow in gravely sand and barely reaching above the ground level. Plants are locally abundant, but threatened by cattle ranching in this area. Cows plow this gentle soils with they hoofs into complete obviation that will require decades to recover.

Echinocereus engelmannii

The very unusual blooms on this plant drew my attention. The 'petals' are very short, making it look like peony flower.

Echinocereus triglochidiatus gonacanthus

Dramatic plants at White Sands NM - also known as 'White Sands form', despite been common all the way North to Albuquerque. The thick-stemmed plants are about two feet tall, and at the time of my visit were about to burst with blooms.

Pediocactus bradyi

This photograph was taken in Marble Canyon, at one of the better known locations of this tiny cactus. The crack-open seed pod is full of large seeds, about the same size as Astrophytum seeds.
The small plants look very similar to juvenile Pediocactus simpsony plants, neat and tidy.

Echinomastus intertextus

Echinomastus intertextus near Tucson AZ. Note the petals that were eaten by some rodent (rabbit?)

Pediocactus paradinei

This Pediocactus species occurs on limited area of Kaibab plateau, but locally common. Most often the plants are growing under and inside the small bushes and are very hard to spot. 

Mammillaria heyderi

Mammillaria heyderi grows near Douglas, AZ, on volcanic soil. The plants in this area are very flat, most often level with the ground, unless found in shady area. This is a good example of a natural look to be desired for this species in horticulture.

Echinocereus coccineus

This is a common species of the American South-West, also known as Claret Cap cactus. This long-spinned form is common at higher elevations in the area from Zion National Park to Kaibab Plateau, were it sometimes called E. toroweapensis. At even higher elevation this species is replaced by somewhat similarly looking Eastern form of E. mojavensis.

Ferocactis wislizeni

This is fairly common and noticeable species in Southern Arizona and New Mexico. The flowers are usually of different shades of red, and ripe fruit are also very colorful. Each fruit bears several hundred small seeds.

Echinocereus coccineus hybrid

Sclerocactus spinosior

S.spinosior is one of the Sclerocactus species that starts flowering before it develops adult spinations. S. spinosior has 'furry' spines, similar to S. pubispinus. The adult plants can grow 30-40 cm tall, but usually much smaller.

Sclerocactus papyracanthus (Toumeya)

This is the smallest Sclerocactus, very different plant compare to any other member of the genus. The plants are known from a large territory, but can be hard to find due to size and good mimicry to the surroundings. It is not very spectacular bur still very desirable among collectors plant, that can reasonably easy grown from readily available commercial seed.

Echinocactus horizonthalonius ssp nicholii

Echinocactus horizonthalonius ssp nicholii name was introduced by Benson for Arizona plants. This is somewhat isolated population (or group of populations), located West of Tucson, with plants virtually indistinguishable from the others belonging to the species. In fact, there are recently discovered Mexican locations where plants do show noticeable different features. Benson had given these plants the special taxonomic treatment based exclusively on the fact that the very old plants here are large and have thicker stems, compared to New Mexico and Texas plants.

Cylindropuntia bigelowii

"Teddy Bear Cholla" is pretty and have very gentle flowers, but one of the most if not the most hostile cactus of all. It's long barbed spines readily penetrate to your skin on lightest touch, and even more painful to pull out.

Echinocereus engelmannii

Probasbly the most common Echinocereus species of US South-West is flowering near Florence, AZ

Echinocereus dasyacanthus

Interesting flower color variation of E.dasyacanthus at Antony Gap near New Mexico - Texas border.

Echinocactus polycephalus

These magnificent plants can only be seen in the wild. They are slow growing and take decades to reach maturity, making raising them from seeds an unpractical if not impossible task for amateur. The large multiheaded plants are hundreds of years old.

Sclerocactus polyancistrus

Sclerocactus parviflorus

Another Sclero parviflorus, photographed just North of Ship Rock, NM. This species is common around the large territory of Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado. Despite been fairly uniform in appearance, those plants were given a large number of different names.

Echinocereus hybrid

This is one of the many natural hybrids, with parents been E.coccineus and E.dasyacanthus.

Echinocereus viridiflorus

Echinocereus viridiflorus becomes common plant once you cross from Arizona into New Mexico. They have green or rusty colored flowers, small and barely opening up. Small plants look pretty neat.

Mammillaria tetrancistra

April it the fruiting season for Mammillaria tetrancistra.

Opuntia sp

Opuntia from the hills near Arizona-New Mexico border. This is a low-growing plant with long black spines and remarkable flowers. It could have been of great interest for growers, if only Opuntias were more popular plants.

Echinocereus coccineus

This picture is taken in the pine forest near Albuquerque, NM, at elevation of 2000m. Plants of E.coccineus are growing there in shady location and develop reduced spines, but the clumps are low and compact - a local adaptation that helps these plants withstand the winter frost, covered under snow.

Sclerocactus parviflorus

This is a large clump growing in the hills not far from Pipe Springs NP in Northern Arizona. This species grows on a large area, and despite the aura of cryptic and rare plant it is actually fairly common and easy to spot - or often hard to miss - within it's range.

Opuntia sp.

Probably O.phaeacantha, in House Rock Valley, AZ

Eriosyce chilensis albiflora

Flowers on that plant are not exactly white unlike the name suggests.

Opuntia microdasis

Unexpected buds on the small-padded white variant of Opuntia microdasis that I've picket at local garden store a while ago.

Sulcorebutia albissima

Sulcorebutia glomeriseta

This species looks a lot like Rebutia senilis, but of cause belongs to a different genus and not closely related.

Ferocactus glaucus

This spineless form is common in cultivation. I'm a bit fascinated with geometrical oddity of spineless cacti.

Loboiva haematantha ' jasimanensis '

Coryphantha maiz-tablasensis

This is one of the more popular Coryphanthas among the collectors, probably due to it's relatively resent discovery. It is an interesting plant, but flowers are small - despite the impression you may be getting from my picture.

Echinocereus reichenbachii albispinus

This small cactus with all white spines is almost as pretty with buds as it is with flowers.

Lobivia pugionacantha 'culpinensis'

Pugio is a name of dagger, a favorite side-weapon of roman solders. In cactus names it usually refers to long stubby spines, like in this species.

Mammillaria subducta

It always blooming in late winter and early spring here, in California

Rebutia fiebrigii

This plant always blooms through the winter, when greenhouse does not get that hot on sunny days. It does not produce spectacular shows of tens of flowers opening simultaneously, like it does in the spring. Instead, at any winter day it has two or three new flowers open.

Matucana haynei

First blooms on this young plant.

Stenocactus crispatus

Nice long-spinned form in flower today. The plant is about 20 years old.