When you think of the massive cactus family, you probably picture towering desert giants soaking up the scorching sun or tropical varieties tucking their leaves into the humid rainforest canopy. But here’s a cool fact: some of these succulent survivors actually thrive at altitudes of 15,000 feet in the Andes and North American mountain ranges. Because they’ve evolved in such harsh conditions, these cacti are surprisingly frost-hardy and can handle chilly winters right in your own backyard.
Winter-Hardy Cactus Varieties: What’s Out There?
While not every cactus can handle a deep freeze, there are a few “tough guys” that can withstand temperatures as low as -22°F (-30°C) without breaking a sweat. Here are the top picks for cold climates:
- All types of Prickly Pears (like ‘Opuntia phaeacantha’, ‘O. fragilis’, and ‘Opuntia rhodantha’)
- Hedgehog Cacti (including ‘Echinocereus adustus’ and ‘Echinocereus viridiflorus’)
- Cholla Cacti (such as ‘Cylindropuntia imbracata’, ‘C. whipplei’, and ‘C. kleiniae’)
- The Club Cholla (‘Grusonia clavata’ or ‘Corynopuntia clavata’)
- Beehive Cacti and their relatives (like ‘Escobaria vivipara v. arizonica’)
On the flip side, spineless “leaf cacti” (like Christmas or Orchid cacti) are never winter-hardy. These frost-sensitive cousins start struggling as soon as it hits 41°F (5°C), which can lead to quick damage to their sensitive roots.
Prepping Your Hardy Cacti for Winter
To make sure your outdoor cactus actually survives the frost, you need to start prepping it in late summer. The main goal? Cutting back on water. Think of it this way: if a cactus is plump and full of water when a hard freeze hits, that water turns to ice and expands, which can kill the plant. By drying out, the cactus concentrates its sap, acting like a natural antifreeze.
In the spring, make sure your hardy cactus is in a sunny spot. You’ll want to use a very gritty soil mix—think inorganic materials like lava rock, pumice, or expanded clay—to ensure excellent drainage. Starting in mid-August, gradually reduce your watering, and by September, stop watering them entirely to let them go dormant.
The Golden Rule: Keep Them Dry
All that prep work won’t matter if your cacti are sitting in a puddle of winter rain or melting snow. Wet feet are the number one killer of hardy cacti in the winter. If possible, keep your plants under a roof overhang. If they’re out in the open, you’ll want to build a simple rain cover.
A great DIY solution is to stretch some clear, waterproof greenhouse film over four wooden stakes. Keep at least two sides open to ensure plenty of airflow; you want to keep the rain off, but you don’t want to trap moisture inside!
