Best Spineless

Blossfeldia liliputana is a species of cactus native to the rocky regions of Argentina and Bolivia, typically growing on cliff faces and in rock crevices. It is recognized as the smallest species of cactus in the world, with mature specimens usually reaching less than 1 centimeter in diameter. The p...

Lophocereus schottii f. monstrose, the Totem Pole Cactus, is a spineless monstrose form of the senita cactus native to Baja California, noted for its smooth, lumpy, irregular surface lacking normal rib structure.

The Bishop’s Cap, *Astrophytum myriostigma*, is a globular cactus native to the northeastern deserts of Mexico. Its distinctive star-shaped appearance and pale white speckling make it a notable ornamental plant. This slow-growing species is appreciated by experienced succulent collectors and those s...

Turbinicarpus lophophoroides is a diminutive, spineless cactus endemic to Mexico’s San Luis Potosí. Its unique resemblance to peyote makes it notable for botanical study and conservation efforts. This rare species is particularly important for researchers investigating unusual plant morphologies and...

Lophophora diffusa, commonly known as the mountain hedgehog or barrel cactus, is a rare species native to the arid regions of Mexico’s Querétaro state. This globular cactus possesses unique spineless tubercles and stores water efficiently in its tissues. Historically valued for its psychoactive comp...

The Beavertail Cactus Opuntia basilaris is a distinctive North American cactus found primarily in the Mojave Desert. Its notable feature is its blue-green, beavertail-shaped pads which are remarkably spineless compared to many other cacti. These pads support vibrant magenta flowers during spring. It...

Peyote, or Lophophora williamsii, is a small, spineless cactus native to northern Mexico and parts of southern Texas. Its low, rounded crown contains mescaline and has a long history of ceremonial use among Indigenous peoples, including legally protected religious use in specific jurisdictions. The...

Opuntia cochenillifera is a species of cactus native to Mexico and parts of Central America, characterized by its fleshy, flattened pads and typically spineless or nearly spineless surface. It holds historical and economic significance as the primary host plant for the cochineal insect, a scale bug...

Matucana madisoniorum is a species of globular cactus endemic to the Marañón River valley in Peru. It is characterized by its flattened, sprawling, or creeping growth habit and often lacks prominent spines. The plant produces vivid orange to red, tubular flowers that bloom from the top of the stem....

Opuntia microdasys, commonly called the bunny ears cactus, is a shrubby prickly pear native to Mexico. It forms flattened, oval pads in paired or clustered arrangements and bears dense tufts of tiny barbed glochids, commonly yellow or white, instead of prominent long spines. Widely grown as an ornam...

Native to the Big Bend region of Texas and Coahuila, Mexico, this prickly pear is covered in dense reddish-brown glochids that can cause eye injury, giving rise to its common name.

Selenicereus inermis is a night-blooming climbing cactus native to Venezuela and Trinidad, notable for its large flowers and nearly spineless stems, as its Latin name reflects.

Opuntia cochenillifera is a Mexican cactus historically cultivated as the primary host for the cochineal insect, which produces the valuable carmine red dye.