As a plant, cacti are just as exotic as the palms and dragon trees that you only really see on holiday. Although cacti are native to the Americas, you also see them in countries around the Mediterranean, where they’ve been imported and thrive in the dry warm climate. They also suit the atmosphere and style of the Levant, southern islands such as Sicily and Madeira and countries like Spain and Greece. Cacti are also common on the Canary Islands: La Palma has entire fields of cacti.
Handsome fellow with discs
You can hang on to that holiday vibe when you’ve returned home by placing or hanging some cacti in your living space. One of the most familiar will be the prickly pear, which grows extensively in Spain and Greece: sometimes on its own, but often as a hedge, like a botanical burglar alarm system! As a houseplant it’s a handsome fellow with discs which can produce prickly pears. But even without those fruits it’s already a delight to look at, with beautiful round shapes that grow together.
5 cactus destinations in Europe
- Jardin de Cactus in Guatiza on Lanzarote (Spain)
- Zingaro Nature Reserve on Sicily (Italy)
- Mora i Bravard in Casarabonela (Spain)
- Halkidiki coastal region near Ouranoupoli (Greece)
- Montjuïc Cactus Park in Montjuïc (Spain)
