17 of the Best Types of Cactus You Can Grow at Home

Thanksgiving cactus is a long-lived type that doesn't have prickly spikes, so it can be grown around kids and pets. It can live for decades with the right care.

It's related to Christmas cactus, which is more difficult to find because it's more fragile to ship, and Easter cactus, which has more star-shaped flowers.

All three types need similar care with bright light and total darkness for 12 to 14 hours, starting in the fall, to rebloom.

Read more: How to Tell a Thanksgiving and Christmas Cactus Apart

SHOP THANKSGIVING CACTUS

This adorable little cactus has short spiny stems and yellow flowers in spring or summer. It's a good choice for new plant parents because it's not too fussy.

SHOP THIMBLE CACTUS

This type of cactus is fast-growing and keeps its cute rounded shape. They can grow up to five feet tall outdoors, though they make a fun windowsill plant indoors.

SHOP GOLDEN BARREL CACTUS

With a name this cute, you simply have to grow this type of cactus! Peanut cactus is an adorable clumping cactus with stems that can curl up to 10 inches long.

SHOP PEANUT CACTUS

Pencil-thin, trailing stems make this cactus a real showstopper as it matures! It's a tropical epiphyte, like orchids, which adapts well to indoor care.

SHOP MISTLETOE CACTUS

How could we not love a cactus nicknamed after one of our favorite country trims? They grow especially well indoors in a sunny window. It also has night-blooming flowers, though they rarely occur indoors.

SHOP RIC RAC CACTUS

The tree-like saguaro cactus is native only to the Sonoran Desert and can live for 200 years! Its super-slow growth rate (about an inch per year for the first eight years of its life) keeps it petite if grown indoors.

SHOP SAGUARO CACTUS

Who knew a cactus could be charming?

The varied stems resemble the turrets of a castle, making it the perfect addition to any whimsical garden. Heads up: It's a very slow grower.

SHOP FAIRY CASTLE CACTUS

The white "feathers" on this cactus look fluffy and soft, but be warned: the younger, shorter spines below that innocuous-looking facade are super-sharp!

Its cute rounded shape and sweetly scented flowers that appear in late summer make it worth growing.

SHOP FEATHER CACTUS

The funny name may not be the most flattering, but it's a cute cactus that is easy to grow!

It may develop a ring of hot pink flowers in late winter to early spring.

SHOP OLD LADY CACTUS

The bunny ears cactus is a popular choice for its cute shape. This plant does not have spines like a traditional cactus, but that doesn't mean it's cuddly! The glochids (tufts of short, hairy spines that give it a polka-dot appearance) can still stick you.

SHOP BUNNY EARS CACTUS

Moon cactus is a popular addition to a succulent garden thanks to its bright color. The hybrid plant is actually two types of cacti grafted together, and its lifespan is short compared to other cacti.

SHOP MOON CACTUS

Easter cactus blooms in early spring, but even without the bright flowers, the green segments make for an attractive plant year round. Like other holiday cacti, Easter cactus prefers bright light but not direct sunlight, which will burn its leaves, which technically are flattened stems.

Read more: Easter Cactus Care Tips

SHOP EASTER CACTUS

Ladyfinger cactus is a sweet addition to a succulent garden. This petite cactus has clusters of cylindrical stems and yellowish spines that give it an overall golden appearance.

SHOP LADYFINGER CACTUS

The distinctly unattractive name isn't really fair to this plant! Rat tail cactus has long trailing stems and pretty pink flowers, so it's a fun addition to any cactus collection.

SHOP RAT TAIL CACTUS

This ball-shaped cactus boasts showy flowers, which may be yellow, red, orange, or pink, depending on the species. This type of cactus prefers a little afternoon shade, especially if grown outdoors.

SHOP PARODIA CACTUS