Beavertail Cactus is one of the most beautiful and recognizable cacti of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, its flattened, beaver-tail-shaped pads producing spectacular magenta-pink flowers in spring that attract large numbers of bees and hummingbirds. Despite lacking the large spines of most prickly pears, the pads are densely covered with glochids — tiny barbed bristles — that cause severe irritation. It typically grows in shallow, rocky desert soils and is a common sight in Joshua Tree National Park.
Best time to see a Beavertail Cactus
The best time to see a Beavertail Cactus is January–April, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 31,778 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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