Here, I provide you with images and scientific and common names of cactus-like plants with flowers. These plants are cactus-like, but not all of them belong to the Cactaceae family. They are from related families but share similar characteristics. You will also learn about their appearance, which will help you identify them more easily.
All of them are indoor plants except one that prefers to thrive outdoors. However, determining the outdoor or indoor is dependent on your location, especially the USDA hardiness zones and microclimates.
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Baseball Plant: Spherical Cactus Like Plants with Flowers
Scientific name: Euphorbia obesa
Other Common names: Living Baseball
Appearance:
Baseball plants are cactus like plants with flowers that have a round shape with a diameter of around 6 cm. Indeed, they are succulents that are covered with small, green tubercles that create a distinctive pattern on the surface.
This plant blooms during the summer and produces small, yellowish-green flowers.
African Milk Barrel: Cylindrical Cactus Like Plants with Flowers
Scientific name: Euphorbia horrida
Other Common names: African Milk Tree
Appearance:
These cactus like plants with flowers have barrel-shaped stems. The stems can grow up to 60 cm in height and 15 cm in diameter. They are succulents whose stem is covered in sharp, long spines (up to 3 cm long). Due to these spines, African Milk has a cactus like appearance.
If you are lucky, you may spot its blooms during the summer. The plant produces small, greenish-yellow flowers.
Mottled Spurge: Tall Cactus Like Plants with Flowers
Scientific name: Euphorbia lactea
Other Common names: Frilled Fan
Appearance:
They are tall cactus like plants with flowers and a branching stem that can grow up to 2 meters in height. Indeed, they are succulents with smooth pale green stems whose patterned with irregular white or cream-colored marbling patterns. Very beautiful!
You may spot its small, greenish-yellow flowers during the summer, which make a stunning appearance.
Candelabra Tree: Tree Cactus Like Plants with Flowers
Scientific name: Euphorbia ingens
Other Common names: Giant Candelabra
Appearance:
These plants are also known as Giant Candelabra because they can grow up to 9 meters in height, with a thick, upright trunk that can be up to 60 cm in diameter. They are giant cactus like plants with flowers.
The trunk is covered in small, green leaves that are around 2 cm long. Due to its branches forming a candelabra shape, people call it a Candelabra tree.
This succulent tree can also produce small, greenish-yellow flowers during the summer that add to its beauty.
Its worth noting that Euphorbia ingens is better suited for outdoor cultivation due to its large size and growth requirements. It needs ample sunlight and space to grow properly.
Pencil Cactus: Cactus Like Plants with Greenish-Yellow Flowers
Scientific name: Euphorbia tirucalli
Other Common names: Firestick Plant
Appearance:
People call these tall cactus like plants Pencil Cactus due to their slender, cylindrical stems that can grow up to 10 meters in height. The stems are green and can be up to 2 cm in diameter, which makes them more similar to the big green pencils.
These living pencils get more beautiful when they appear with small, greenish-yellow flowers on them during the summer.
Carrion Flower: Cactus Like Plants with Flowers That Are Star-Shaped
Scientific name: Stapelia gigantea
Other Common names: Giant Toad Plant
Appearance:
They are cactus like plants with flowers that are more famous due to their fleshy, star-shaped flowers that can reach up to 30 cm in diameter. Very gorgeous! Their wonderful flowers have a reddish-brown colour and are covered in short, hair-like structures. The blooms emit a strong odour similar to rotting flesh to attract pollinators. So this plant is known as the Carrion Flower.
Carrion Flower produces stems that can grow up to 60 cm in length. Do you know why people call it the Giant Toad Plant?
Starfish Flower: Cactus Like Plants with Maroon Flowers
Scientific name: Stapelia grandiflora
Other Common names: Giant Toad Cactus
Appearance:
This is also a succulent that is a little smaller than Carrion Flower. These cactus like plants with flowers produce large, star-shaped flowers that can grow up to 15 cm in diameter. The flowers are typically dark maroon or brownish-red in colour, with hairy or warty textures on the petals. People call them Starfish flowers!
The plant produces stems that can grow up to 45 cm in length and make a stunning appearance with its large flowers.
Hairy Starfish Flower: Cactus Like Plants with Hairy Flowers
Scientific name: Stapelia hirsuta
Other Common names: Hairy Toad Cactus
Appearance:
These cactus like plants with flowers have hairy stems and hairy, star-shaped flowers. So they are similar to a fluffy star. Their hairy flowers are usually brownish-red with warty textures. The plant produces stems that can grow up to 30 cm in length. Having them in your indoor plant collection can add to the beauty of your indoor décor.
Leendertz’s Starfish Flower: Cactus Like Plants with Funnel-Shaped Flowers
Scientific name: Stapelia leendertziae
Other Common names: Leendertz’s Toad Cactus
Appearance:
This succulent has funnel-shaped flowers that can grow up to 10 cm in diameter. They are cactus like plants with flowers that their flowers are typically dark maroon or reddish-brown with hairy or warty textures. Similar to other members of Stapelia, this plant produces stems that can grow up to 20 cm in length.
Variegated Starfish Flower: Variegated Cactus Like Plants with Flowers
Scientific name: Stapelia variegata
Other Common names: Variegated Toad Cactus
Appearance:
One of the wonderful things about these cactus like plants with flowers is their variegated stems with star-shaped flowers. You may see their flowers in various shades of brown, maroon, or red, with hairy or warty textures. The stems can grow up to 30 cm in length, which makes a gorgeous view in your house. This is also a non-toxic plant for cats and dogs.
Yellow-Purple Starfish Flower: Cactus Like Plants with Stunning Flowers
Scientific name: Stapelia flavopurpurea
Other Common names: Yellow-Purple Toad Cactus
Appearance:
cactus like plants with flowers of Stapelia with different star-shaped flowers. Their blooms are yellow with purple markings and hairy or warty textures. I love them. Similar to others, the stems can grow up to 30 cm in length.
Zebra Huernia: Cactus Like Plants with Flowers and Zebra Stripes
Scientific name: Huernia zebrina
Other Common names: Lifesaver Plant
Appearance:
They are cactus like plants with flowers with thick, succulent stems. Small spines and ridges on their stems make them more similar to cactus plants. The stems often grow in a zigzag pattern and can reach up to 30 cm in length.
The flowers are similar to an artwork. They are star-shaped and have a unique pattern resembling zebra stripes. The stems can grow up to 45 cm in length.
Porcupine Huernia: Cactus Like Plants with Flowers
Scientific name: Huernia hystrix
Other Common names: Hedgehog Plant
Appearance:
These succulents are very similar to cacti due to their thick, cylindrical stems with pronounced ridges and small spines. Their stems can grow up to 20 cm in length that can grow up to 40 cm in length and typically branch out from the base. That gives them a bushy appearance.
The flowers are star-shaped and have a pale yellow or cream colouration.
Kenyan Huernia: Reddish Cactus Like Plants with Flowers
Scientific name: Huernia keniensis
Other Common names: Kenya Lifesaver Plant
Appearance:
These cactus like plants with flowers feature thick, fleshy stems with shallow ridges and small spines. The stems can grow up to 15 cm in length. A distinguishing thing about this plant is the colour of the stems, which are often reddish-brown.
The flowers are star-shaped and have a maroon or purple colouration that, along with their reddish stem, makes a colourful appearance. The plant produces stems that can grow up to 25 cm in length.
Drooping Huernia: Greenish-Grey Cactus Like Plants with Flowers
Scientific name: Huernia pendula
Other Common names: Hanging Lifesaver Plant
Appearance:
The thick, cylindrical stems of Drooping Huernia resemble cacti and make mistakes. The stems can grow up to 50 cm in length and often have a greenish-grey colouration and can grow up to 60 cm in length. So, they are ideal to place on tables.
The flowers of these cactus like plants with flowers are star-shaped and have a yellow or orange colouration that contrasts with their foliage.
Schneider’s Huernia: Snake Cactus Like Plants with Flowers
Scientific name: Huernia schneideriana
Other Common names: Snake Plant
Appearance:
These cactus like plants with flowers have thick, succulent stems that are covered in small spines and ridges that cause people to assume it is a cactus-like plant. The stems can grow up to 30 cm in length and often. Do you know why it is known as the Snake cactus? The flowers are star-shaped and have a burgundy, pale yellow or cream colouration.
Conclusion
Most people think every plant with spines is are cactus, but some succulents are cactus like plants with flowers but don’t belong to the family Cactaceae. In this article, I provided you with 16 of them with their image and a brief overview of their appearance.
Did you find your intended plant among them? If you didn’t find it don’t worry. I recommend getting help from a plant identifier tool. The “Google Lens” is a free online tool that can help you with this issue. Try and enjoy it.
Elahe Rabiei
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.