This is a table of the Scientific and Common names of cactus. Sometime the same cactus has different names and more often different cactus are called by the same name, some of these are succulents. This has been done alphabetically, to the best of my ability by Scientific names. In 1945, 1973 and 1993 the National Geographic said there were 80 species of cactuses.
Scientific name |
Common name |
Acanthocereus pentagonus | big-needle vine |
Adenium obesum | desert rose |
Adenium swazicum | impala lily |
Adromischus cooperi | plover eggs |
Adromischus trigynus | calico hearts |
Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' | black rose |
Aeonium canariense | giant velvet rose |
Aeonium haworthii | pinwheel |
Aeonium tabulaeforme | green platters |
Agave parryi - not a cactus | century plant |
Agave victoriae-reginae | queen agave |
Aloe brevifolia | blue Aloe |
Aloe ciliaris | climbing Aloe |
Aloe plicatilis | fan Aloe |
Aloe striata | coral aloe |
Aloe succotrina | burn plant |
Aloe succotrina | medicine Aloe |
Aloe suprafoliata | mustache plant |
Aloe variegata | partridge breast Aloe |
Aloe variegata | tiger Aloe |
Aporocactus flagelliformis | rattail cactus |
Ariocarpus fissuratus | living stone cactus |
Ariocarpus fissuratus | Mexican living rock |
Astrophytum asterias | sand dollar |
Astrophytum asterias | sea urchin cactus |
Astrophytum Capricone | Star of Capricorn |
Astrophytum myriostigma | bishop's cap |
Astrophytum Myriostigma | Star Cactus |
Beaucarnea recurvata | bottle palm |
Beaucarnea recurvata | pony tail |
Boswellia | frankincense |
Bowiea volubilis | climbing onion |
Bryophyllum daigremontianum | mother of thousands |
Bryophyllum delagoense | pregnant plant |
Bryophyllum pinnatum | air plant; miracle leaf |
Bryophyllum pinnatum | sprouting leaf |
Carnegiea gigantea | Saguaro |
Cephalocereus senilis | old man cactus |
Cereus Hexagonus | Blue Cereus |
Cereus jacamaru | night blooming cereus |
Cereus jacamaru 'monstrosus' | curiosity plant |
Cereus Ming Thing | Crested Motrose Cactus |
Cereus Ming Thing | Monster Cactus Crested |
Cereus Ming Thing | Motrose Cactus |
Cereus neotetragonus | Fairy Castle |
Ceropegia linearis ssp. woodii | string of hearts |
Chamaecereus Silvestri | peanut cactus |
Cheiriodopsis candidissima | victory plant |
Cissus quadrangularis | veld grape |
Cissus rotundifolia | Arabian wax cissus |
Cleistocactus pojoensis | Orange Silver Torch Cacti |
Cleistocactus straussi | silver torch |
Cleistocactus winteri (Hildewinteria aureispinus) | golden rat tail |
Commiphora | myrrh |
Coryphantha elephantidens | elephant tooth cactus |
Coryphantha vivpara var. aggreata | Rising Biscuits Common Pincushion |
Coryphantha vivpara var. Arizonica | Arizona Pincushion Cactus |
Cotyledon barbeyi | hoary navelwort |
Cotyledon tomentosa | bear's paw |
Crassula barkleyi (C.teres) | rattlesnake tail |
Crassula deltoidea | silver beads |
Crassula muscosa (C.lycopodioides) | watch chain plant |
Crassula muscosa 'Pseudolycopodiodes' | princess pine |
Crassula ovata | jade plant |
Crassula ovata 'Tricolor' | tricolored jade |
Crassula perfoliata var. minor (C.falcata) | propeller plant |
Crassula perforata | necklace vine |
Crassula perfossa | string of buttons |
Crassula rupestris | rosary vine |
Crassula tetragona | miniature pine tree |
Cryptocereus anthonyanus | fish bone cactus |
Cryptocereus anthonyanus | Zig-zag cactus |
Decaryia madagascariensis | Zigzag plant |
Dioscorea (Testudinaria) elephantipes | elephant foot |
Disocactus (Pseudorhipsalis) macranthus | fragrant moondrops |
Disocactus (Pseudorhipsalis) macranthus | honeysuckle cactus |
Dorotheanthus bellidiformis | living stone daisy |
Dracaena | dragon tree |
Dracaena draco | dragon's blood tree |
Drimiopsis botryoides | leather leaf |
Dudleya brittonii | chalk rose |
Echeveria derenbergii | painted lady |
Echeveria elegans | Mexican snowball |
Echeveria pulvinata | chenille plant |
Echinocactus grusonii | golden barrel |
Echinocactus horizonthalonius | eagle claws |
Echinocereus | hedgehog cactus |
Echinocereus Blanckii | Devil’s Finger |
Echinocereus dasayacanthus | rainbow cactus |
Echinocereus Dasyacanthus | Texas Rainbow |
Echinocereus Enneacanthus | Warty Hedgehog |
Echinocereus Fendleri | Fendler’s Hedgehog |
Echinocereus Pectinatus Var. Caespitosus | Comb Cactus |
Echinocereus Pectinatus Var. Reichenbachii | Lace Cactus |
Echinocereus Pectinatus Var. Rigidissimus | Arizona-Rainbow cactus |
Echinocereus Triglochidatus Var. Melanacanthus | Red Hedgehog |
Echinocereus triglochidiatus | claret cup cactus |
Echinofossulo cactus | brain cactus |
Echinomastus Erectocentrus | Indian Basket Cactus |
Echinomastus Johnsonii Var. Lutescens | Chartreuse Hedgehog |
Echinopsis (Lobivia) | cob cacti |
Echinopsis (Trichocereus) pachanoi | San Pedro |
Echinopsis (Trichocereus) spachianus | Torch Cactus |
Echinopsis chamaecereus | peanut cactus |
Echinopsis multiplex | Easter-lily cactus |
Echinopsis Scoullar | Pink Hedgehog |
Engelmann’s Echinocereus Engelmannii | Strawberry Hedgehog |
Epiphyllum hybrids | orchid cactus |
Epiphyllum oxypetalum | Dutchman's pipe |
Epiphyllum oxypetalum | night blooming cereus |
Eriocereus Bonplandii | Midnight Lady |
Eriocereus Pomanensis | Green Sirens |
Espostoa lanata | old lady cactus |
Espostoa lanata | Peruvian old man |
Euphorbia | milk bush |
Euphorbia caput-medusae | Medusa's head |
Euphorbia fulgens | scarlet plume |
Euphorbia grandicornis | cowhorn |
Euphorbia lactea 'Cristata' | elkhorn; brain plant |
Euphorbia lathyrus | mole plant |
Euphorbia mammillaris | corncob cactus |
Euphorbia mammillaris 'variegata' | Indian corncob |
Euphorbia millii var. splendens | crown of thorns |
Euphorbia pulcherrima | Poinsettia |
Euphorbia tirucalli | pencil plant |
Euphorbia x lomi | giant crown of thorns hybrid |
Faucaria tigrina | tiger jaws |
Fenestraria rhopalophylla | baby toes |
Ferocactus covillei | Coville's barrel |
Ferocactus cylindraceus | fire barrel |
Ferocactus glaucescens | blue barrel cactus |
Ferocactus Wislizenii | Arizona Barrel |
Ferocactus, Echinocactus | barrel cactus |
Fouquiera (Idria) columnaris | boojum tree |
Fouquiera (Idria) columnaris | cirio |
Fouquiera splendens | ocotillo |
Furcraea gigantea | giant false agave |
Furcraea selloa 'Marginata' | variegated false agave |
Gasteria bicolor 'Caespitosa' | pencil leaf |
Gasteria carinata var. verrucosa | ox tongue; pencil leaf |
Glottiphyllum | tongue leaf |
Graptopetalum paraguayense | ghost plant |
Greenovia aurea | green rose buds |
Gymnocalycium | chin-cactus; spider cactus |
Gymnocalycium leeanum | yellow chin-cactus |
Gymnocalycium mihanovichii | plain chin-cactus |
Gymnocalycium mihanovichii var. friedrichii | plaid cactus |
Gymnocalycium mihanovichii var. friedrichii | rose-plaid cactus; red cap |
Hatiora salicornioides | drunkard's dream |
Haworthia attenuata fa. caespitosa | fairy washboard |
Haworthia attenuata fa. caespitosa | zebra plant |
Heliocereus speciosus | sun cactus |
Hesperaloe parviflora | false Aloe |
Homalocephala texensis | Eagle Claws |
Hoya carnosa | wax plant |
Hoya carnosa 'Compacta' | Hindu rope plant |
Huernia zebrina | life-saver plant |
Hylocereus undatus | night blooming cereus |
Hylotelephium sieboldii | October plant |
Hylotelephium spectabile | Ice Plant |
Hylotelephium telephium | Orpine |
Kalanchoe beharensis | velvet leaf; elephant ear |
Kalanchoe marmorata | penwiper plant |
Kalanchoe thyrsiflora | paddle plant |
Kalanchoe tomentosa | panda plant |
Kleinia gregori | peppermint stick |
Kleinia obesa (Senecio deflersii) | pickle plant |
Kleinia pendula | inchworm plant |
Lapidaria margaretae | karroo rose |
Ledebouria socialis 'Violacea' | silver squill |
Lemaireocereus Thurberi | Organ Pipe Cactus |
Leuchtenbergia principis | agave cactus |
Leuchtenbergia principis | prism cactus |
Lithops | living stones |
Lithops | stoneface, cleft stone |
Lobivia Aurea | Golden Lilly Cactus |
Lobivia Aurea Var. Cylindrica | Orange Lily |
Lobivia Hertrichiana | Cob Cactus |
Lophocereus schottii | Senita |
Lophophora williamsii | dumpling cactus |
Lophophora williamsii | Peyote |
Mammillaria | nipple cactus |
Mammillaria | pincushion cactus |
Mammillaria (Dolichothele) longimamma | finger-mound |
Mammillaria bocasana | powder puff |
Mammillaria bombycina | silken pincushion |
Mammillaria camptotricha | bird's nest cactus |
Mammillaria candida | snowball pincushion |
Mammillaria elongata | golden stars |
Mammillaria elongata | lady finger cactus |
Mammillaria elongata | Pink Nymph |
Mammillaria elongata | Silver Star Cactus" or Pink Nymph |
Mammillaria elongata 'Cristata' | brain cactus |
Mammillaria geminispina | whitey |
Mammillaria gracilis (M.fragilis) | thimble cactus |
Mammillaria hahniana | old lady cactus |
Mammillaria lasiacantha | lace-spine cactus |
Mammillaria Magnimamma | Mexican Pincushion |
Mammillaria microcarpa | fishook cactus |
Mammillaria Microcarpa var. Milleria | Miller’s Pincushion |
Mammillaria Oliviae | Snowball Cactus |
Mammillaria parkinsonii | owls eyes |
Mammillaria plumosa | feather cactus |
Mammillaria Scheidweilerana | Pincushion Cactus |
Mammillaria spinosissima | red headed Irishman |
Mammillaria Wilcoxii | Pinal Pincushion |
Mammillaria Zeilmanniana | Pink Crown |
Melocactus | Turk's cap cactus |
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum | Ice Plant |
Mestoklema tuberosa | donkie vygie |
Myrtillocactus Geometrizans | Blue Myrtle |
Myrtillocactus geometrizans | myrtle cactus |
Neobesseya Missouriensis | Missouri Pincushion |
Nolina | bear grass |
Notocactus Apricus | Sun cup |
Notocactus Graessneri | Lemon Donut |
Notocactus haselbergii | Yellow Pincushion cactus |
Notocactus leninghausii | Golden Torch Cactus |
Notocactus roseoluteus | Ball Cactus |
Nyctocereus serpentinus | snake cactus |
Opuntia | prickly pear |
Opuntia Aciculata | Bristly Pear |
Opuntia Anacantha | Orange-tuna Cactus |
Opuntia basilaris | beaver tail |
Opuntia Bigelovii | jumping Cholla |
Opuntia bigelovii | teddy bear cholla |
Opuntia Chlorotica | Pancake Prickly Pear |
Opuntia cylindrica | emerald idol |
Opuntia dillenii | tuna |
Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri 'linguiformis' | cow's tongue |
Opuntia erectoclada | dominoes |
Opuntia Erinacea Var. Hystricina | Porcupine Cactus |
Opuntia Erinacea Var. Rhodantha | Prickly Rose |
Opuntia ficus-indica | Indian Fig |
Opuntia fulgida | jumping Cholla |
Opuntia fulgida var. mamillata 'Monstrosa' | boxing glove |
Opuntia Imbricata | Candelabrum Cactus |
Opuntia microdasys | bunny ears |
Opuntia microdasys 'Lutea' | honey Mike |
Opuntia microdasys var. albata | angora bunny ears |
Opuntia microdasys var. albispina | polka dots |
Opuntia microdasys var. rufida | cinnamon cactus |
Opuntia monacantha | Irish mittens |
Opuntia monacantha 'Variegata' | Joseph's coat |
Opuntia Phaeacantha | Tulip Prickly Pear |
Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea | grizzly bear |
Opuntia robusta | Silver Dollar Cactus |
Opuntia Santa-Rita | Purple Prickly Pear |
Opuntia schickendantzii | lion's tongue |
Opuntia spinosior | Cane cholla |
Opuntia streptacantha | tuna cardona |
Opuntia strobiliformis | spruce cones |
Opunita versicolor | staghorn cholla |
Orbea variegata | star flower |
Orbea variegata | toad flower |
Oreocereus celsianus | old man of the Andes |
Oreocereus fossulatus | mountain cereus |
Ornithogalum longibracteatum (O.caudatum) | pregnant onion |
Pachycereus marginatus | organ pipe |
Pachycereus pringlei | Cardon |
Pachycormis discolor | elephant tree |
Pachypodium lamerei | Madagascar palm |
Pachypodium namaquanum | halfmens |
Parodia (Notocactus) haselbergii | white-web ball |
Parodia (Notocactus) rutilans | pink ball cactus |
Parodia (Notocactus) scopa | silver ball |
Parodia (Notocactus) submammulosus | lemon ball |
Parodia aureispina | Tom Thumb |
Parodia maassii | Tom Thumb cactus |
Pedilanthus tithymaloides | redbird cactus |
Pedilanthus tithymaloides var. smallii | devil's backbone |
Pedilanthus tithymaloides var. smallii | Zigzag plant |
Pelecyphora aselliformis | hatchet cactus |
Peniocereus greggi | Arizona Queen of the Night |
Peniocereus Greggii | Sweet Potato |
Pereskia aculeata | lemon vine |
Pereskia grandifolia | rose cactus |
Pilosocereus pachycladus (P.azureus) | blue candle |
Pleiospilos | living rocks |
Pleiospilos | split rock |
Portulaca | moss rose |
Portulaca | purslane |
Portulacara afra | elephant bush |
Portulacara afra | spekboom |
Portulacaria afra 'Variegata' | variegated elephant bush |
Portulacaria afra 'Variegata tricolor' | rainbow bush |
Puna clavarioides | black fingers |
Puna clavarioides | dead man's fingers |
Rebutia | crown cactus |
Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri | Easter cactus |
Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri 'Makoyana' | cat's whiskers |
Rhipsalis (Acanthorhipsalis) monacantha | spiny Rhipsalis |
Rhipsalis baccifera | mistletoe cactus |
Rhipsalis paradoxa | Chain Cactus |
Rhipsalis warmingiana | popcorn cactus |
Rhodiola rosea | rose root |
Rhombophyllum dolabriforme | elkhorn plant |
Sansevieria hallii | baseball bat |
Sansevieria hyacinthoides | bowstring hemp |
Sansevieria trifasciata | mother-in-law's tongue |
Sansevieria trifasciata | snake plant |
Sansevieria trifasciata 'Hahnii' | bird's nest snake plant |
Schlumbergera | holiday cactus |
Schlumbergera bridgesii | Christmas cactus |
Schlumbergera gaertneri | Easter cactus |
Schlumbergera truncata | crab cactus |
Schlumbergera truncata | Thanksgiving cactus |
Schlumbergera truncata | Zygocactus |
Sclerocactus Whipplei | Little Barrel |
Sedum | stonecrop |
Sedum acre | wall pepper |
Sedum burrito | baby burro tail |
Sedum divergens | old man's bones |
Sedum morganianum | burro tail |
Sedum morganianum | donkey tail |
Sedum multiceps | miniature Joshua tree |
Sedum nussbaumerianum | Golden Sedum |
Sedum rubrotinctum | Christmas cheer |
Sedum spathulifolium ssp. pruinosum | Cape Blanco Sedum |
Sedum spurium | dragon's blood sedum |
Sedum treleaseisilver sedum | Silver sedum |
Selenicereus (Deamia) testudo | dog-tail cactus |
Selenicereus (Deamia) testudo | tortoise cactus |
Selenicereus grandiflorus | night blooming cereus |
Selenicereus grandiflorus | king of the night |
Selenicereus macdonaldiae | queen of the night |
Selennicereus Pteranthus | Princess of the Night |
Sempervivum | Cat and kittens |
Sempervivum | hen and chickens |
Sempervivum | houseleek |
Sempervivum arachnoideum | cobweb houseleek |
Senecio articulatus | candle plant |
Senecio haworthii | cocoon plant |
Senecio herreanus | gooseberry plant |
Senecio pachyphyllum | jelly beans |
Senecio rowleyanus | string of beads |
Senecio rowleyanus | string of pearls |
Senecio serpens | blue chalk sticks |
Stapelia hirsuta, Stapelia gigantea | starfish flower |
Stenocereus (Machaerocereus) eruca | catapiller cactus |
Stenocereus (Machaerocereus) eruca | creeping devil cactus |
Stenocereus thurberi | organ pipe cactus |
Talinum | fame flower |
Tavaresia barklyi | thimble flower |
Tephrocactus articulatus | paperspine cactus |
Tephrocactus articulatus var. inermis | spruce cones |
Thelocactus bicolor | Glory of Texas |
Trichocereus Spachianus | Torch Cereus |
Tylecodon paniculatum | botterboom |
Umbilicus | navelwort |
x Gasteraloe beguinii | pearl aloe; lizard tail |
x Gasterhaworthia 'Royal Highness' | royal highness |
x Pachyveria haagei | jewel plant |
x Pachyveria scheideckeri 'Cristata' | jeweled crown |
x Sedeveria 'Harry Butterfield' | super burro tail |
Yucca aloifolia | Aloe Yucca |
Yucca aloifolia | Spanish bayonet |
Yucca baccata | yucca |
Yucca brevifolia | Joshua tree |
Yucca elata | soaptree Yucca |
Zygocactus truncatus | Christmas cactus hybrid |
Zygocactus truncatus | Gold Charm Christmas cactus |
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
This page copyright © 1997-2003 tses
Last updated 9 /7/2003