Below is a list of all cacti found in Arizona; the main species first, those with a photograph and full description page, followed by all other species, generally less common.

Cacti are found all across the state; they are most numerous in Pima County in the far south (51 species), and least common in Greenlee County in the east (8 species).

Some of the most localized plants are coryphantha recurvata, cylindropuntia abyssi, escobaria robbinsiorum, pachycereus schottii (senita) and several pediocactus species, while the most widespread, occurring across half (or more) of the state, include escobaria vivipara, cylindropuntia acanthocarpa, cylindropuntia leptocaulis, opuntia chlorotica, opuntia engelmannii and opuntia phaeacantha.


Coryphantha scheeri, giant pincushion cactus (AZ, NM, TX)
Cylindropuntia abyssi, Peach Springs canyon cholla (AZ)
Echinocereus apachensis, Apache hedgehog cactus (AZ)
Echinocereus pectinatus, Mexican rainbow cactus (AZ, NM, TX)
Escobaria missouriensis, Missouri foxtail cactus (AZ, CO, ID, KS, MT, ND, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX, WY)
Escobaria robbinsiorum, Cochise foxtail cactus (AZ)
Mammillaria macdougalii, MacDougal pincushion cactus (AZ)
Mammillaria mainiae, counterclockwise fishhook cactus (AZ)
Mammillaria thornberi, Thornber's pincushion cactus (AZ)
Mammillaria viridiflora, green flowered pincushion cactus (AZ, NM)
Mammillaria wrightii, Wright's nipple cactus (AZ, NM, TX)
Opuntia macrorhiza, Twist spine prickly pear (AZ, CO, ID, KS, MT, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX, UT, WY)
Opuntia martiniana, seashore cactus (AZ, UT)
Sclerocactus whipplei, Whipple's fishhook cactus (AZ, UT)