Cacti and succulents identification

The following photos will allow you to identify cacti and other succulent plants. Click on image to view plant details.

What are succulents?

Succulents are plants that are able to store water in their shoots, leaves or roots and are therefore adapted to survive in areas with low rainfall. These can be regions where there is little year-round rainfall or those with dry periods that these plants have to survive.

Succulent plants can be found in all climatic zones, and their distribution is not limited to hot desert and prairie areas.

The best known succulents are undoubtedly the members of the cactus family (Cactaceae). Some of them are hardy, some Opuntia species tolerate frost up to -4 °F/-20 °C.

It is not so well known that some orchids also are succulent plants. They store water in their thick roots or fleshy leaves. Thus, they can grow sitting on trees, where they receive more sunlight than on the forest floor.