Cactus in Death Valley

The Mojave Desert is rich with cacti and succulent species, yet in Death Valley National Park they are scarce due to the extremes of heat, dryness and soil salinity. Even so, cactus grow from an elevation of 400 feet above sea level to the summits of the surrounding mountains.

The cactus species most commonly seen are cottontop barrel, silver cholla, and beavertail cactus. Engelmann hedgehog cactus are locally abundant above 3000 feet elevation. Grizzly bear pricklypear is the most common species in the pinyon-juniper woodlands.

Joshua trees--the indicator species of the Mojave Desert--are found in only a few locations here. The Lee Flat area contains the finest stand in the park.

In contrast to other succulent species, pickleweed is very salt-tolerant and can be found in marshy areas below sea level.

Barrel Cactus

California Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei

Cottontop Barrel Cactus
Echinocactus polycephalus

Mojave Pineapple Cactus
Sclerocactus johnsonii

Mojave Fishhook Cactus
Sclerocactus polyancistrus

Hedgehog Cactus

Engelmann Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus engelmannii

Mojave Mound Cactus
Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. mojavensis

Pincushion Cactus

Desert Spinystar
Escobaria vivipara var. deserti

Corkseed Fishhook Cactus
Mammillaria tetrancistra

Pricklypear Cactus

Beavertail Cactus
Opuntia basilaris

Old Man Pricklypear
Opuntia erinacea var. erinacea

Grizzly Bear Pricklypear
Opuntia erinacea var. ursina
Mojave Pricklypear
Opuntia mojavensis

Brown-spined Pricklypear
Opuntia phaeacantha var. major

Plains Pricklypear
Opuntia polycantha var. rufispina

Cholla Cactus

Silver Cholla
Opuntia echinocarpa

Pencil Cholla
Opuntia ramosissima

Yuccas

Joshua Tree
Yucca brevifolia

Mojave Yucca
Yucca schidigera

Other Succulents

Pickleweed
Allenrolfea occidentalis

Dead Man’s Fingers (annual)
Calandrinia ambigua

Western Spring Beauty
Claytonia lanceolata

Panamint Live-forever
Dudleya saxosa ssp. saxosa

Bitterroot
Lewisia rediviva

Inkweed
Suaeda moquinii