In some cultures, a cactus growing white flowers symbolizes resilience and strength. Although they grow in harsh deserts, these delicate white flowers become a reminder of beauty amid life’s adversities.
If you want this constant reminder in your home or garden, look no further. Here’s our roundup of the best cacti with stunning white flowers!
1. Golden Torch Cactus (Trichocereus ‘spachiana’)
Scientific Name | Trichocereus spachiana |
Common Name | Golden torch cactus |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Full sun to partial shade |
Soil | Well-draining cactus mix |
Height | Up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Maintenance | Low maintenance. |
Use/s | Indoor or outdoor plant Can be used as a focal point in a landscape or as a specimen plant in a pot. |
The Golden Torch Cactus is known for its bright golden spines and large white flowers. It’s native to South America and grows in dry, mountainous regions.
This plant’s showy white flowers are typically 5 to 8 inches wide with a long, tube-shaped base. It can be grown in warm climates, adding a touch of desert to your home or garden.
2. Giant Saguaro Cactus (Carnegia ‘gigantea’)
Scientific Name | Carnegia gigantea |
Common Name | Giant saguaro cactus |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Full sun |
Soil | Well-draining cactus mix |
Height | Up to 50 feet (15 meters) |
Growth Rate | Slow |
Maintenance | Low maintenance. |
Use/s | Outdoor plant only Can be used as a specimen plant in a landscape or as a focal point in a desert garden. |
The giant Saguaro cactus is an iconic plant from the Sonoran Desert that can grow up to 50 feet tall and live for over 300 years. It’s known for its massive size, tree-like structure, and beautiful white flowers.
This cactus has a unique columnar shape with branches covered in sharp spines, protecting the cactus from predators. Its showy white flowers have a long, tube-shaped base that open at night and are pollinated by bats.
3. Easter lily cactus (Echinopsis ‘oxygona’)
Scientific Name | Echinopsis oxygona |
Common Name | Easter lily cactus |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Full sun to partial shade |
Soil | Well-draining cactus mix |
Height | Up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Maintenance | Low maintenance. |
Use/s | Indoor or outdoor plant Can be used as a ground cover in a landscape or as a specimen plant in a pot. |
The Easter lily cactus is unique for its showy white flowers that can grow up to 6 inches wide. It’s native to South America and grows in dry, rocky regions.
Its white flowers have a tube-shaped base that is typically open at night and has a sweet fragrance. We recommend this cactus for beginners and those who want to add a touch of spring to your home or garden.
4. Chin Cactus (Gymnocalycium ‘mesopotamicum’)
Scientific Name | Gymnocalycium ‘mesopotamicum’ |
Common Name | Chin Cactus |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Full sun to partial shade |
Soil | Well-draining cactus mix |
Height | Up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Maintenance | Low maintenance. |
Use/s | Indoor or outdoor plant Can be used as a ground cover in a landscape or as a specimen plant in a pot. |
The Chin Cactus is a small, spherical plant known for its chin-like protrusions on its ribs that help the cactus collect rainwater and protect it from predators. It’s native to the dry, rocky regions of Argentina.
The white flowers are open at night and emit a sweet fragrance. They’re an excellent choice for indoor and outdoor gardening as it’s a low-maintenance plant and brings a touch of the desert to your home or garden.
5. Queen of the night (Epiphyllum ‘oxypetalum’)
Scientific Name | Epiphyllum oxypetalum |
Common Name | Queen of the night |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Bright, indirect light |
Soil | Well-draining cactus mix |
Height | Up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Maintenance | Low maintenance. |
Use/s | Indoor plant Can be grown in a hanging basket or on a trellis. |
The Queen of the Night is a cactus species known for its large, white flowers that bloom at night. It is native to Central and South America and grows in tropical rainforests.
It grows fragrant white flowers, reaching up to 12 inches wide, and open at night for only a few hours before wilting in the morning. This plant is easy to care for, adding an exotic touch to indoor and outdoor gardens in warm climates.
6. Argentine Giant Cactus (Echinopsis ‘candicans’)
Scientific Name | Argentine giant |
Common Name | Argentine giant cactus |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Full sun to bright indirect light |
Soil | Well-draining cactus mix |
Height | Up to 6 feet |
Growth Rate | Slow to moderate |
Maintenance | Low |
Use/s | Ornamental |
The Argentine giant cactus is a popular cactus variety known for its large size, which can reach up to 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide at maturity. It grows beautiful white flowers 6-8 inches wide and has a long, tube-shaped base.
Its white flowers have petals with a slightly wavy margin that typically open at night and release a sweet fragrance. This cactus is a popular houseplant for being low-maintenance and creating a dramatic focal point for garden landscapes.
7. Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera ‘truncata’)
Scientific Name | Schlumbergera ‘truncata’ |
Common Name | Thanksgiving cactus, Christmas cactus |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Bright indirect light |
Soil | Well-draining cactus mix |
Height | Up to 2 feet |
Growth Rate | Slow to moderate |
Maintenance | Low |
Use/s | Ornamental |
The Thanksgiving cactus blooms white flowers around Thanksgiving time, hence its name. It’s native to the rainforests of Brazil, where it grows as an epiphyte on trees.
Its fragrant white flowers have a long, tube-shaped base, have a sweet fragrance and are open during the day. They’re a popular choice for hanging baskets, terrariums and outdoor gardens in warm climates, as it will surely bring joy to anyone who sees them.
8. Hooker’s Orchid Cactus (Epiphyllum ‘hookeri’)
Scientific Name | Epiphyllum ‘hookeri’ |
Common Name | Hooker’s orchid cactus |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Bright indirect light |
Soil | Well-draining cactus mix |
Height | Up to 6 feet |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Maintenance | Low |
Use/s | Ornamental |
The Hooker’s orchid cactus is famous for its large, white flowers that bloom at night. It’s native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America.
These fragrant white flowers can grow up to 12 inches wide and have a long, tube-shaped base surrounded by petals. It’s a slow-growing plant that you can grow as a houseplant or in gardens in warm climates.
9. Apple cactus (Cereus ‘hildmannianus’)
Scientific Name | Cereus ‘hildmannianus’ |
Common Name | Apple cactus |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Full sun to bright indirect light |
Soil | Well-draining cactus mix |
Height | Up to 10 feet |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Maintenance | Low |
Use/s | Ornamental, edible fruit |
The apple cactus is a tree-like plant native to Peru and South America. It blooms large, fragrant white flowers that bloom at night and are pollinated by moths and bats.
These white flowers also produce sweet nectar, which hummingbirds love. You can use apple cactus as a houseplant or a garden plant since it’s an easy-to-maintain plant that can tolerate a variety of conditions.
10. White-fleshed pitaya (Selenicereus ‘undatus’)
Scientific Name | Selenicereus ‘undatus’ |
Common Name | White-fleshed pitaya, dragon fruit |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Full sun to bright indirect light |
Soil | Well-draining cactus mix |
Height | Up to 30 feet |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Maintenance | Low |
Use/s | Ornamental, edible fruit |
The White-fleshed pitaya is a cactus vine native to Central and South America. It grows large white flowers with long, slender petals that open at night and close during the day.
Its flowers are so fragrant that they attract pollinators, including moths, bats, and hummingbirds. You can use it as a house or garden plant, but note that they can grow quite large, so they’ll need to be supported.
11. Pincushion Cactus (Echinocereus enneacanthus)
Scientific Name | Echinocereus enneacanthus |
Common Name | Pincushion cactus |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Full sun to bright indirect light |
Soil | Well-draining cactus mix |
Height | Up to 2 feet |
Growth Rate | Slow to moderate |
Maintenance | Low |
Use/s | Ornamental |
The Pincushion cactus is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Its white flowers are small and funnel-shaped, found at the top of the cactus in the spring or early summer, and are surrounded by a ring of sharp spines, hence its name.
This cactus also has a cylindrical stem that can grow up to 3 feet tall and is covered in sharp spines, which protect the plant from predators. It can be used as a houseplant or a garden plant, placed in a sunny window or planted in a spot that receives full sun.
12. The Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)
Scientific Name | Epiphyllum oxypetalum |
Common Name | Dutchman’s pipe cactus, queen of the night |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Bright indirect light |
Soil | Well-draining cactus mix |
Height | Up to 10 feet |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Maintenance | Low |
Use/s | Ornamental |
The Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus is indigenous to Central and South America and is known for its showy, white flowers that bloom at night and its fragrant perfume. These blooms are typically 6 to 8 inches in diameter and have a long, slender tube base.
This cactus is an epiphyte, which means it grows on other plants. Fortunately, you can also grow them in pots or the ground since they’re drought-tolerant, survive no watering during the winter months, and thrive for years under your care.
13. Silver Torch Cactus (Cleistocactus strausii)
Scientific Name | Cleistocactus strausii |
Common Name | Silver torch cactus, golden torch cactus |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Full sun to bright indirect light |
Soil | Well-draining cactus mix |
Height | Up to 5 feet |
Growth Rate | Slow to moderate |
Maintenance | Low |
Use/s | Ornamental |
The Silver Torch cactus is a columnar cactus native to Bolivia and Argentina, famous for its silver-white spines, giving it a striking appearance. It can grow up to 10 feet tall and produce clusters of white flowers in the spring and summer.
The Silver Torch Cactus is an easy-to-maintain plant, especially since it’s drought tolerant. They make excellent houseplants or outdoor plants in gardens in warm climates.
14. The White-Haired Crown Cactus (Rebutia albiflora)
Scientific Name | Rebutia albiflora |
Common Name | White-haired crown cactus, white rebutia |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Full sun to bright indirect light |
Soil | Well-draining cactus mix |
Height | Up to 6 inches |
Growth Rate | Slow |
Maintenance | Low |
Use/s | Ornamental |
The White-Haired Crown cactus is a small, globose plant native to Bolivia known for its white, wooly hairs and clusters of white flowers in the spring and summer months.
The flowers are typically about 1 inch in diameter and have five or six petals surrounded by a ring of white spines. It’s a no-frills houseplant that can also be grown outdoors in warm climates.
15. Star Cactus (Astrophytum asterias)
Scientific Name | Astrophytum asterias |
Common Name | Star cactus, sand dollar cactus |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Full sun to bright indirect light |
Soil | Well-draining cactus mix |
Height | Up to 3 inches |
Growth Rate | Slow |
Maintenance | Low |
Use/s | Ornamental |
The star cactus is a small, round, and spineless cactus native to the deserts of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. It’s famous for its unique star-shaped ribs and bright white flowers, typically 1 to 2 inches in diameter in spring and summer.
The plant’s body is divided into 7 to 10 ribs covered in white wooly hairs. It’s a slow-growing houseplant, but you can also plant it indoors if you live in an area with a warm climate.
16. Bunny Ears Cactus (Opuntia microdasys)
Scientific Name | Opuntia microdasys |
Common Name | Bunny ears cactus, angel wings cactus |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Full sun to bright indirect light |
Soil | Well-draining cactus mix |
Height | Up to 1-foot |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Maintenance | Low |
Use/s | Ornamental |
The Bunny Ears cactus is native to Mexico known for its unique, fuzzy pads that resemble bunny ears. It can grow up to 12 inches tall and 6 inches wide and produce white flowers in spring and summer.
Its fragrant white flowers are typically 1-2 inches in diameter and funnel-shaped, attracting various pollinators, such as moths, bats, and hummingbirds. You can use it as a houseplant, garden plant, addition to your terrariums, or succulent gardens.