Types of Cactus Without Spines: 10 Options Perfect for Your Garden 

Cacti are pretty widespread plants. This is predominantly due to the fact they require fairly little care. It is also because they are striking and add a touch of aesthetic to houses of all types.

Alas, a considerable amount of individuals avoid having a cactus in their house or garden because they don’t fancy the spines.

Luckily, there are existing some cacti without spines. You can touch them without any damage to you. They will be an excellent addition to your garden in case you think that cacti that have spines are not for you.

If you are seeking some cacti without spines, we will share 10 types of spineless cacti that look stunning but will never accidentally prick you.

1. Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)

Christmas cactus is probably one of the most well-known tropical cacti without spines. It is native to the rainforests of Brazil. This spineless cactus got its name because it begins to bloom around Christmas time. The Christmas cactus will be a wonderful present for your relatives and friends.

Christmas cacti have cladodes which are modified stems that serve as leaves of the cactus. The flowers are stunning and can be of different colors.

This tropical plant can be epiphytic or epilithic, implying they can grow on trees and other plants or rocks.

Christmas cactus is fairly simple to maintain. It is better to grow plants in well-drained soil and a place with bright, but indirect sunlight. You must try to avoid direct sunlight.

This cactus plant ought to be watered only when the soil begins to feel dry to the touch, to prevent root rot. 

2. Peyote (Lophophora Williamsii)

The Peyote cactus is a small cactus without spines from Mexico. It contains mescaline and other psychoactive alkaloids hence considered as a poisonous cactus species. This spineless cactus has been used for quite many years by the native communities for cultural use.

It is shape is spherical and it hardly emerges from the ground. It is not a tall cactus and it can fairly frequently go overlooked.

The color is light greyish green and areoles without thorns can be distinguished. Its flowers vary from light pink to white. It also grows fairly slowly, so because of the extractions it became close to disappearing. Due to that, Mexican legislation has forbidden extraction by non-locals.

Nevertheless, it is a gorgeous decorative plant that can be grown in any garden. Despite the fact it does not have spines, in case it is consumed even in insignificant amounts it can induce dizziness, blurred vision, and hallucinations. So, if you included it in your collection, it must be kept away from kids and your pets.

Also, there is no need to water it more than 1–2 times a month, which can be considered as an advantage.

3. The Thornless prickly pear (Opuntia Ellisiana)

Most Opuntia prickly pears have spines, but this variety does not have them. The Thornless prickly pear cactus belongs to the Opuntia genus which includes more than 200 species of cacti. This spineless cactus is native to Mexico.

It might be used for safe arid gardens, but it is also used for livestock fodder.

This spineless cactus blooms in the spring (and sometimes fall). The flowers are generally yellow but there can be white and red variations.

The edible fruits of the cactus are remarkably sweet and some say they taste like an exceptionally sweet watermelon. Native Americans valued the fruits of this plant so much that they are frequently called Indian Fig.

The thornless prickly pear cactus is a fairly easy plant to care for. It requires full sun and well-drained soil. Like many cacti, it is predisposed to root rot when watered too profusely.

In general, it is lovely, and enduring and will be a wonderful addition to the landscape.

4. Easter Cactus (Rhipsalidopsis Gaertneri)

The Easter cactus is another widespread type of spineless cactus. This succulent is closely related to the Christmas cactus and has many almost identical features. The Easter cactus is native to Brazil and gets its common name from the fact that it blooms around Easter time.

It can have white, purple, or red flowers, that always look stunning.

The Easter cactus is pretty simple to care for. When growing indoors, place the plant in a bright spot but out of direct sunlight. Water the plant when the soil is dry to the touch. Easter cactus is also fairly drought tolerant and can go long periods without water.

Be certain that it was planted in well-draining soil and try not to overwater because it is prone to root rot like many other succulent plants.

You also ought to be cautious with the amount of fertilizer you are using for Easter cactus. Excessive quantity of fertilizer can harm the plant’s roots and stop it from blooming.

5. The fishbone cactus (Disocactus Anguliger)

The fishbone cactus is an epiphytic cactus without spines that originated in Mexico. It is a unique houseplant with flattened stems that have a zigzag pattern. This spineless cactus blooms in spring with gorgeous purple, white, or pink flowers.

The propagation and care of the Fishbone cactus is uncomplicated if it is growing in well-drained soil and provided with bright indirect sunlight. You should regard its fertilization once a month during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer to boost its blooming.

Fishbone cactus is vulnerable to pest insects such as mealybugs, scale insects, and spider mites.

Periodic check for pests is essential and it is possible to control them with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Fishbone cactus can also be sensitive to root rot when you water it too extensively.

6. Mistletoe cactus (Rhipsalis Baccifera)

Mistletoe cacti are long-lived and low-maintenance plants. It is a pretty famous houseplant that will suit perfectly for novices.

The mistletoe cactus has impressively long trailing stems, and because of that, this houseplant is typically sold in hanging baskets. You can use them as a wonderful solution that will help to decorate your window.

The mistletoe cactus creates transparent white globular-shaped fruits. These appear from analogous white flowers. It is native to Central America. 

Maintenance of Rhipsalis baccifera is pretty easy. It likes bright, indirect sunlight and moist, well-draining soil. You only need to water it twice a month.

Also, try to be fairly scarce with watering – ensure to water only when the soil is dry. They do not like very wet soil.

Rhipsalis baccifera is not sensitive to a large amount of pests or infections, but mealybugs can become an issue. These pests suck the sap from the plant and can provoke it to become stunted or even perish.

7. Sand dollar cactus (Astrophytum Asterias)

The sand dollar cactus is a well-known species of cacti plants without spines. You can grow it in pots as an ornamental houseplant.

It has a globular shape and has 8 marked sections and wooly areoles. It lacks any needles and has only fuzz-like trichomes. It is comparable to peyote, but the flowers in this case vary from white to yellow.

The stem is remarkably smooth and glossy and has a dark green color. There are limitless varieties developed from this species, with amazing distinctive features.

This cactus must only be watered when the soil is totally dry. But it is capable of growing with either moderate shade or full sun. Due to its solitary stem, it is perfect for containers and can almost effortlessly be grown indoors.

8. Totem pole cactus (Pachycereus schottii var monstrosus)

The totem pole cactus is a kind of spineless cactus that is native to Mexico. It will be an excellent addition to desert gardens and landscapes.

You can grow it indoors, but it is better to remember, that it it needs a quite large amount of sunlight. So, this plant prefers bright light and has a high tolerance to the full sun.

This cactus normally blooms in early spring. Even though this plant will produce flowers during the night, they are sterile and will not create seeds. It also produces an edible, egg-shaped, red fruit with red pulp.  

It can be fairly easily propagated. It does not require frequent watering, which can be regarded as a benefit. But it is better not to forget that watering must be deep. Also, you should not overwater it, because it is predisposed to root rot.

9. Orchid cactus (Epiphyllum spp.)

This is a type of cactus without spines. It is native to Central and South America. This spineless cactus was named like this because of its gorgeous flowers that can be compared to orchids. The orchid cactus is also sometimes called the epiphyllum cactus.

Also quite frequently referred to as the climbing cactus or leaf cactus, this cactus without spines has large flowers from a long stem. They generally have long, flattened, and trailing stems of bright green color. It is for this reason they are seen to be comparable to orchids. 

They have colorful flowers with colors ranging from white to pink. They only bloom once. This occurs for a very brief time during the night. The flowers look gorgeous and have a very nice smell.

It should not be a problem to care for Orchid cacti. Because of that, they are excellent for growing indoors. They can flourish both indoors and outdoors.

10. Feather cactus (Mammillaria plumosa)

Mammillaria plumosa is a clustering globular cactus, and it clusters fairly easily. The stem of this cactus can reach around 3 inches (8 cm) in diameter, and when forming clusters, can produce a large set. It has flowers that can be different colors from white to ivory. Also, sometimes they can have pink flowers.

This particular sort of cactus is native to Mexico and the southwest United States.

This cactus can tolerate full sun, so it might be placed outdoors in summer or on a bright windowsill indoors. Make certain not to overwater this cactus, and always check before watering again.

This is a low-maintenance plant, which makes it an excellent choice for beginners who are looking for a gorgeous, yet uncomplicated beginning to their collection. It works wonderfully in container gardens, as well as alone in an effective container.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

While some cacti have spines or thorns, some of them are spineless. It makes them simpler to grow and maintain. Instances of spineless cacti are the Christmas cactus, Mistletoe cactus, Peyote, Sand dollar cactus, and some others.

If you desire to add succulent plants that don’t have the spines to your garden, you can consult this list for some ideas.

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