19 Cactus Plants with Pretty Flowers You Can Grow Indoors

When I think of cacti, I think of spiky little succulents that thrive on neglect. They are the toughest of plants in so many ways. But they can also be surprisingly soft and beautiful. That is when they bloom. 

These tropical and desert dwellers stay at the periphery of my radar for most of the year. They are easy to care for and unobtrusive as long as you keep them out of the way of traffic. It’s when they bloom that I truly appreciate these spiny plants. 

While some cacti grow very large, most are slow-growing and long-lived. Most make nice houseplants for quite some time before they need to go in the ground. If you don’t have the outdoor space or climate, try out some of these beautiful cactus species that flower indoors. 

Fishbone

	common name Fishbone
	botanical name Selenicereus anthonyanus
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 3’-6’
	hardiness zones 10-12

Fishbone is a tropical flowering cactus that prefers a warm, humid indoor environment. It is a nice one for hanging near a bathroom window, where it will get plenty of moisture. Its long, flatly lobed stems have a zigzagging pattern, making it a unique and beautiful specimen. It looks great in a hanging basket to accentuate the long, draping stems. 

This night bloomer produces large, fragrant flowers in shades of pink, gold, and cream. They are short-lived, opening at night and wilting by morning. If you’re a night owl, this one will feel like it blooms just for you. The flowers are so delicate and beautiful that it feels magical when they open.

Golden Barrel

	common name Golden Barrel
	botanical name Echinocactus grusonii
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 9-12

This larger cactus looks dangerous, and it can be. Because the spines are long and sharp, keep it out of high-traffic areas. Golden barrel is slow-growing and will eventually reach two to three feet tall and wide. While it’s getting there, it makes a nice houseplant. To grow this one outdoors, you need to live in a warm climate. 

The yellow spines grow close together and form a golden haze around the plant’s body. This winner of the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit also produces golden blooms. In late spring, the flowers form a ring on top and look like a floral crown. 

Old Lady Pincushion

	common name Old Lady Pincushion
	botanical name Mammillaria hahniana
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10”-1’
	hardiness zones 9-11

The old lady comes by its name as a result of the white, fuzzy hairs that grow all over it. Don’t let its soft and fluffy appearance fool you, though. Beneath the fuzz, there are sharp spines. Small and round, this one works well indoors but likes a lot of light. The hairs protect it from intense heat, and as a result, this is its preferred state. 

This native to Mexico is fast-growing, starting out spherical and elongating as it grows larger. At maturity, it reaches about one foot tall. Also, a winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, it can bloom any time in spring or summer, depending on the environment. With proper indoor care, the bright pink and showy flowers will appear in a ring around the old lady cactus’ head. 

Bunny Ears

	common name Bunny Ears
	botanical name Opuntia microdasys
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 9-12

This prickly pear variety has adorable paddles that look like sweet bunny ears, hence its name. It lacks the long spines of most prickly pear cacti, so it makes a great addition to the indoor collection. The spines aren’t as prominent as that of a barrel cactus, but can irritate the skin. Try to avoid touching it. It’s also a winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Also occasionally called the polka dot cactus, these bright green paddles have a smattering of golden spots all over. In spring and summer, delicate yellow blossoms atop the stems turn into edible fruit. They are charming and adorable, with a soft appearance.

Golden Rat Tail

	common name Golden Rat Tail
	botanical name Cleistocactus winteri
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 5’
	hardiness zones 9-11

Golden rat tail is a funny name for an intriguing plant. Its stems are long, thin, tail-like, and covered in soft golden spines. The plant’s trailing nature makes it great for hanging in a basket in a brightly lit window. It’s a fast grower that hails from Bolivia, where it lives in rocky, mountainous terrain. 

In late spring and early summer, bright, salmon-colored blooms appear, with each flower lasting several days. It can bloom repeatedly during the summer, providing color in the home. It is also a winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It prefers warm temperatures and is happy in a greenhouse during the winter if you grow it outdoors. 

Orchid 

	common name Orchid Cactus
	botanical name Epiphyllum oxypetalum
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 8′-10′
	hardiness zones 10-11

Another tropical species, orchid cacti, has long, flat stems that make them perfect for cascading over the side of a hanging basket. They prefer higher-than-average humidity and warm temperatures. This epiphyte is a bit more complicated than most cacti, but it’s truly beautiful, and the flowers are worth the effort. 

In spring and early summer, this indoor-friendly cactus produces large flowers that bloom at night. They are highly fragrant and spectacular, and they are all the more special because of how fleeting they are. This spineless plant also goes by the names Lady of the Night and night-blooming cereus.

Star

	common name Star
	botanical name Astrophytum asterias
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 1”-2”
	hardiness zones 9-11

This little bitty thing called the star cactus is a sweet and low-maintenance flowering cultivar perfect for indoor collections. It is drought-tolerant and spineless, so it works well indoors. It also stays small throughout its life, so you will rarely have to re-pot it. The body is round with several mid-ribs that give it the appearance of a star from overhead. It’s also commonly called a sea urchin. 

Fairy Castle

	common name Fairy Castle
	botanical name Acanthocereus tetragonus
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 1’-6’
	hardiness zones 9-11

What an adorable name for this quirky cactus! Fairy castle looks, as it sounds, like a tiny castle with many slightly pointed towers. It’s a dry-weather species and needs little care, making it great for anyone who doesn’t have much time to tend to it. Even with this ease of care, it can be a spectacular specimen over time.

A bit of morning exposure is best for this one, but be careful not to expose it to too much light, as it will cause stress. Though it’s not a frequent bloomer, when it does, it’s spectacular. The flowers are large, up to eight inches in diameter, white, and fragrant. They open at night and close during the day, making them extra special. 

Turk’s Cap

	common name Turk’s Cap
	botanical name Melocactus matanzanus
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 3”
	hardiness zones 10-11

Tiny and spiny, Turk’s cap is a striking little cactus characterized by its brightly colored cephalium. This small, wooly, orange structure is where it gets its name. As the cactus matures and this cephalium forms, it can produce both flowers and fruit in indoor environments. 

This Cuban native is popular as an ornamental. It blooms between spring and fall, producing bright pink flowers. This one stays small, so it rarely needs repotting, which is great because it’s covered in hard, sharp spines. 

Rainbow

	common name Rainbow
	botanical name Echinocereus rigidissimus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6”-1’
	hardiness zones 9-11

This popular cultivar is noticed for its brightly colored spines, which form colorful rings around the cylindrical structures. The spines come in a range of colors, including pink, red, white, and yellow. The rings create a lot of interest for this tough and tolerant cactus.

Rainbow cactus is also famous for its large, flashy, and flamboyant pink flowers that appear indoors under the right conditions. They are so large they often obscure the top of the cylinder. Each plant can produce several blooms on this native of Mexico and North America.

Ball

	common name Ball
	botanical name Parodia magnifica
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3”-1’
	hardiness zones 9-11

A cluster-forming plant, the ball cactus is distinctive for its spherical structures, with many well-defined ribs covered in wiry golden spines. This easy-to-grow species grows to about one foot tall and creates offsets to form clusters of ball-shaped stems. 

In summer and fall, the spheres produce golden blooms that develop into red fruits that decorate the tops into fall. This one prefers a lot of light for optimal blooming.

Devil’s Tongue

	common name Devil’s Tongue
	botanical name Ferocactus latispinus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 4”-2’
	hardiness zones 9-11

With a name like devil’s tongue, it’s no surprise that this cactus is a bit scary looking. The long, sharp, flattened spines look like pointed tongues emerging from the many ribs of the spherical plants. Smaller spines surround these flattened spines.

Native to Mexico, devil’s tongue likes arid climates and doesn’t need humidity. It’s great for any sunny window. In fall, flamboyant blooms pop out of the crown. The funnel-shaped flowers are pink, purple, or yellow. They can sometimes continue to bloom in early winter. 

Peanut

	common name Peanut
	botanical name Echinopsis chamaecereus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3”-4”
	hardiness zones 10-11

Peanut cactus is a popular houseplant with cylindrical stems. The stems initially stand upright and resemble peanuts, but as they get longer, they trail. The bright green stems have small, bristly clumps of spines that dot the slightly raised ribs. 

This plant blooms in several flushes in spring and summer. The flowers are large and brilliant reddish-orange. If it’s happy with its surroundings, it will bloom profusely. It’s also more cold-tolerant than usual, enduring temperatures below freezing for short bursts. It’s also a recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Dwarf Chin

	common name Dwarf Chin
	botanical name Gymnocalycium baldianum
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 2”-4”
	hardiness zones 8-11

The small, attractive dwarf chin cactus is popular as a houseplant for its form and flowers. Small and globular, the dwarf chin is greenish-blue with bumpy ridges and long, thin spines. It remains small and doesn’t require much care aside from occasional watering.

The flowers are what make this plant so noteworthy. They are quite large in comparison and beautiful. The blooms are perfectly pink and daisy-like, and last for several days. They bloom from late spring to early summer and give way to small, elongated fruits.

Claret Cup

	common name Claret Cup
	botanical name Echinocereus triglochidiatus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’-2’
	hardiness zones 7-12

This cactus finds its way into cultivation expressly for its wonderful flowering habit. Low-growing, and mound-forming, claret cup can be spiny or spineless. It’s exceptionally easy to grow and cultivate and in the wild, providing a great food source for pollinators and other small animals. 

In spring, the flower show begins. Large, showy, cup-shaped flowers are crimson with golden centers and a bright green stigma. They give way to edible fruits. This plant’s bloom time is significant, spanning from mid-spring until mid-summer. 

Bishop’s Cap

	common name Bishop’s Cap
	botanical name Astrophytum myriostigma var. nudum
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8”-4’
	hardiness zones 10-11

The five ribs on this spineless, spherical cactus form a perfect star shape. As it ages, the number of ribs can increase, up to 8 spines. Initially, they are round but grow more cylindrical as they age, becoming tall and thin.

It can take several years to see your Bishop’s cap bloom, but when they do, it’s wonderful. They bloom intermittently from spring to fall and sometimes continuously for months at a time. Each pretty yellow flower opens for a few days and in succession. 

Little Mouse

	common name Little Mouse
	botanical name Rebutia muscula
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 2”-3”
	hardiness zones 10-11

This miniature cultivar has a lot of personality for something so small. It is clump-forming and cylindrical, with stems covered in fine, white spines. It has a soft, fuzzy appearance. Its wonderful attributes earned it an Award of Garden Merit from the RHS.

Though the stems are tiny, the flowers are large in comparison. The stems grow to about three inches tall, and clumps may span six inches across. The bright orange flowers can be more than an inch in diameter, and multiple blooms are present simultaneously. 

Snowball Pincushion

	common name Snowball Pincushion
	botanical name Mammillaria candida
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 6”-1’
	hardiness zones 9-11

Another award winner, snowball is a sweet specimen with a fluffy, soft appearance. Fine white spines that look like hairs grow alongside thicker, harder spines, making this one formidable but pretty. It’s a great beginner cactus, as it’s easy to care for and takes neglect well. 

The globular stems become cylindrical and singular over time. As the plant ages, it can produce offsets. It flowers in spring and summer, and the blooms are delicate and beautiful. Soft pink blooms protrude from the crown, pairing wonderfully with the soft, white hairs.

Easter Lily

	common name Easter Lily
	botanical name Echinopsis subdenudata
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 2”-3”
	hardiness zones 9-11

Easter lily cactus is a night bloomer and stays small, so it’s great for your indoor succulent garden. The small rounded stems have white spots on many ribs that look like polka dots! These are usually solitary, but they create offsets over time and can have a mounding appearance. 

Despite its small size, this succulent produces extra-large flowers—up to six inches in diameter! These large, white blooms open only at night and release a wonderful fragrance. They are short-lived but bloom in succession, so the season can last a while.