Cactuses are interesting plants, and there’s a lot of interesting information available about them. In this post, we’re not going to go into any of the boring technical stuff though. We’re just covering cactus facts, hopefully providing you with an interesting read that will elave you with fun facts you can share with your friends.
Fact 1: Cactuses can store hundreds of litres of water
Well, not all cacti can, but there are certain varieties than can store well over 500L of water. If you’re stranded in the desert, a cactus could be a lifesaver. A small cactus may store up to a few litres of water too, even the ones you have sitting on your windowsill!
Many cactuses live in dry regions which get very little rainfall. By storing water, they make the most out of any rain they do get. This can make them a challenge for home gardeners to keep alive though since overwatering is a common culprit of dying cacti.
Fact 2: More than 1700 species
There are more than 1700 species of cactus, some say even close to 2000 different varieties! For just one type of plant, that’s a whole lot of different species to choose out of. There are small ones, tall ones, colorful ones and plain green ones… Although they are technically a succulent, they’re often seen as a separate type of plant to grow by enthusiasts due to the large amount of variety.
Fact 3: Cactus plants can live for over 100 years
Not all cactuses you get are going to reach ages anywhere near this number, but there are varieties that have been known to live 100 years or more. The Mexican giant cardon can even live for up to 300 years!
Fact 4: Both cacti and cactuses are correct
Well, their both considered correct and normal to use. The word cactuses is said more often but, in writing, many prefer to use cacti. At the end of the day, it comes down to being less of a nit-picky whine and just enjoying the (virtual) company or story someone is trying to tell you.
Fact 5: From small to tall
The smallest cactus in the world only grows to be a few cm’s tall, whereas the tallest varieties can tower over people at heights well over 10-15 metres. This huge variety in height is why they’re so popular with gardeners. There are fantastic small succulent varieties that can be kept in small indoor pots as well as huge tree-like cactuses that are great as a centre piece or for in the back yard.
Fact 6: Cactus spines are actually a far-evolved type of plant leaf
A cactuses spins help to feld of predators, but can also help keep the plant cool and help it collect water. There is still a lot of debate as to why exacts cacti have spikes as well as what benefits they get out of it. Considering it’s the main reason these plants are so well known, that’s a real surprise!
Fact 7: Cactus fruit
There are certain varieties of cacti that bear edible fruits. Various kinds of fruit come from cactuses as, although it’s not very common. Fruits like the cactus fig, otherwise called the prickly pear, can be consumed by people. Just watch out for the spikes if you do dig in!
Fact 8: Some cacti have leaves
Yep, you read that right! There are certain varieties of cactus that have leaves. These sometimes disappear as they grow older but there are also cactuses that keep their leaves too. Some even look more like trees or shrubs than what you would traditionally think a cactus should look like.
Fact 9: Cactuses flower
There are many extremely beautiful cactus varieties that produce extravagant flowers of varying colors. There are cactuses with white flower, blue flowers, pink flowers and a huge array of other colors. This is one of the reasons why they’re so appealing to grow, both as a hobby as well as for fun.
Fact 10: Only in America (& a tiny bit of Africa)
Cactuses natively come from America and their distribution is limited to North and South-America. There are a few species in Africa which are thought to have been brought over by migratory birds. That being said, they are grown throughout the world by hobbyists as well as your everyday Joe.
Conclusion
Cactuses, or cacti, are beautiful and interesting plants. There are a lot of interesting facts to read about, many of which clearly distinguish them from other plant species. Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed this post on the best cactus facts! If you know of any other interesting cactus facts, please send us a message or leave a comment and we’ll make sure to add it into this post. We’re always looking to improve our resources and would love to hear from you!
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