Amazing Argentine Giant Cactus Flowers

Photo by Bill Whiting

Photo by Lisa E White

Most cactus flowers bloom in late spring, so as temperatures heat up in the desert, we see fewer and fewer.  The Argentine Giant Cactus can bloom 4-5 times in the spring into early summer.  They are a type of cereus cactus, but instead of growing up, they often creep along the ground, forming a clump sometimes seven feet in diameter.  These cactus are also night blooming, but the strong-smelling blooms can stay open for awhile if the sun is not too harsh.  Most have white flowers, but the one from Bill Whiting's yard is bright red.  When my neighbor and I ran across these white cactus blooms on our morning walk, we risked stepping into their yard, as all of the blooms were facing South.  Though you can only see about 30 blooms here, there were about 50 blooms in one night!!!  What a year for cactus flowers.