What types of cactus are there? A full rundown of the newest varieties

Cactus is a plant of the genus Opuntia, also known as Xianbazhang, Guanyinzhang, Bawang, Huozhang, etc. It is a plant of the family Cactaceae. There are many types of cactus, which can be specifically divided into the prickly pear cactus group, the segmented cactus group, the crab claw cactus (crab orchid), the leaf-type forest cactus group, and the spherical cactus. Let's take a look together below!

Prickly pear cactus

Prickly pear cacti are mainly distributed in Canada, the West Indies and southern Argentina, and are the second largest family of plants in the Cactaceae family.

Segmented cactus group

Most cacti in the segmented cactus group grow in forests.

Crab claw cactus

The fleshy stems of the crab claw cactus (crab orchid) are divided into segments, which is one of its characteristics, and this is also a characteristic of epiphytic cacti.

Leaf-type forest cactus group

The leaf-type forest cactus group, like the segmented cactus group, both belong to cacti that need relatively more water.

Spherical cactus group

The plant appearance of spherical cacti is all round and spherical.

Climbing cactus

Climbing cacti all have aerial roots and can cling to rocks or tree trunks, which is one of the characteristics of this type of cactus. They are all cylindrical and grow by climbing upward or hanging downward.

Edible cactus

Edible cactus is a newly introduced health vegetable in China. The variety is mainly the “Mibangta” edible cactus introduced from Mexico. The “Mibangta” edible cactus is a new cactus variety selected and bred over many years by Mexican experts, mainly for eating and with multiple uses.