The creation of cactus gardens basically involves the regional collection of succulents and cacti, which are grouped by specific genera and growth forms. While treading through the cactus garden, an individual would be able to witness dozens of species.
Popular groups include the Ferocactus, Opuntias, Echinocereus, Mamillaries, agaves and columnar Cacti. The enormous popularity that the cacti plant has amongst the plant collectors and gardeners is only surpassed by that of orchids and roses.
The appeal and beauty of such cactus gardens expand far beyond their original habitat. It has numerous devotees in Europe, Japan, and the United States. Hundreds of specialty nurseries have aggravated the desire of possessing such strange and yet beautiful plants. The largest shops sell and grow millions of plants each year. One of the reasons why tourists visit the southwest region of America is cacti. Although most people do think that they know the cactus when they see, they often get mistaken. Although all cacti are succulent plants, not all succulents are cacti. Hence, extreme care needs to be exercised while purchasing or selecting cacti for cactus gardens. Most ocotillos, agaves, succulent euphorbias and aloes are considered to be a form of cacti but are mistaken to be cacti.
Characteristics of Prickly Pear Cactus; The prickly pear cactus is mainly useful for creating a dramatic impact and adds a southwestern feel to any sort of landscape. Mostly, prickly pear cacti grow up to 15 feet tall and have deep green branching pads. At the time of spring, Opuntia ficus indica mainly gets to have flowers ranging from stunning bright yellow to orange flowers, which measure 3 to 5 inches. These flowers add to the beauty of cactus gardens. On development, these flowers turn into edible, pinkish-red prickly pears. Subsequently, these cacti form woody, brown-colored trunks.
Other Cactus Featured in Cactus Gardens; Apart from the prickly pear cactus and Opuntia, another very popular variety of cacti are the beavertail cacti. New pads of such species mostly develop from the bases of the older cactus plants. This normally results in the formation of those plans that have a combined height of only two pads. However, the clumps of the plant grow to approximately 6 feet in diameter. These cactus plants are also featured in most cactus gardens.
Most of the species of cacti get pollinated with the help of large varieties of bees. There are some bees that highly specialize in the pollination of cacti. Overall, cactus plants sum up for an exciting and very interesting cactus gardens. These gardens provide a source of amusement and also act as a welcome change from the conventional-looking plants, which normally grace a house backyard.