As the water-crisis throughout the southwest continues on, homeowners are moving toward more drought-tolerant plant life, including those native to their area and others capable of thriving in arid areas.
Nearly all cacti are succulents, which means they’ve thickened in order to store water and survive in arid areas.
“Unlike many other succulents, the stem is the only part of most cacti where this vital process takes place. Most species of cacti have lost true leaves, retaining only spines, which are highly modified leaves. As well as defending against herbivores, spines help prevent water loss by reducing air flow close to the cactus and providing some shade.”
Because cacti thrives in arid areas, they have become popular among property owners interested in maintaining a beautiful garden without the need for excessive amounts of water. There’s a wide variety of cacti available as well, so there’s still a lot of freedom in regard to personalizing your garden.
Are you interested in planting cacti – which varieties you would plant?
