A most attractive cactus, Opuntia microdasys (Bunny Ears) is a bushy, perennial cactus with oval to round, flattened, small pads, up to 6 in. across (15 cm). Red when new, the pads appear in pairs, like the ears of a rabbit, and mature to a soft, velvety green as they grow. They are spineless but densely spotted with neatly spaced, white areoles, each bearing white, yellow, or reddish-brown bristle-like spines. Sitting on the outer edges of the pads, large, pure yellow or tinged with red, bowl-shaped flowers are produced in spring or early summer.

Slowly growing, Echinocactus grusonii (Golden Barrel Cactus) forms a pale green, barrel-shaped stem with prominent ribs adorned with areoles sprouting bright golden spines. Bright yellow flowers, 2 in. wide (5 cm) are produced from late spring to summer on mature specimens receiving enough full sun. Over time, this cylindrical cactus takes on an oblong shape and tends to lean to the south or southwest so that the spines can better protect the body of the plant from the desert sun.

Curious-looking and exceedingly handsome, Cephalocereus senilis (Old Man Cactus) forms slender, erect, silvery-white columns densely covered with long, white silky hairs. Particularly striking on young plants, they gradually disappear as the plant ages. Usually unbranched, occasionally basally clumping, each columnar stem features 20-30 shallow ribs along the edges. Arising from the areoles are not only the hairs but also 1-5 stout, yellow to gray spines. Funnel shaped, nocturnal, solitary, rose-colored flowers are produced on mature specimens.

Regarded as one of the most spectacular species in the genus, Ferocactus pilosus (Mexican Lime Cactus) forms a simple or clumping, deep green, barrel-shaped to columnar cactus with prominent ribs adorned with areoles sprouting bright red spines. Bright red-orange flowers are produced from late spring to summer on mature specimens. They form a discreet ring at the top of the plant. Over time, this cylindrical cactus often forms groups, with several subsidiary barrels growing from the main one, their deep green bodies densely covered with bright red spines up their entire length.

One of the most striking and picturesque plants, Euphorbia canariensis (Canary Island Spurge) is a small succulent shrub adorned with up to 150 vertical branches as thick as a man's arm. Branching from the base, the deep green to reddish stems are usually 4 sided (sometimes 5 or 6)  with regular pairs of dark shining spines along the four corners of the stems. Small reddish-green flowers emerge from near the spine axils in mid to late spring. A moderately fast grower, Canary Island Spurge will quickly become a large landscape beauty in 3-5 years. Give it plenty of room to grow.