Choose from the best climbing cactus varieties to add height, texture, and colorful blooms to your indoor or outdoor garden.
Not all cacti grow low and round, and these climbers are the proof! Read on to explore the best climbing cactus types that offer more than just spikes and climb with their long, sprawling stems.
Best Climbing Cactus
1. Queen of the Night
Botanical Name: Epiphyllum oxypetalum
This cactus lives up to its name by blooming massive, fragrant white flowers at night. Often mistaken for an orchid cactus, it is actually a climbing cactus with long, flat, leaf-like stems that drape and climb when given support.
Queen of the Night grows as an epiphyte, and it clings to trees with aerial roots in humid forests. You can train it on a moss pole or trellis, or let it spill from a hanging basket. The blooms only last a few hours, but the anticipation and show are worth it.
Pro Tip: Keep it slightly root-bound and feed with a bloom-boosting fertilizer in spring to encourage flowering.
2. Curly Locks Cactus
Botanical Name: Selenicereus anthonyanus
Its deeply lobed, zig-zag stems make this climbing cactus unique. You will often see Curly locks cactus being sold under the name “Fishbone Cactus” or “Ric Rac Cactus,” in the stores, so don’t get confused while buying. It thrives in indirect light and enjoys climbing or trailing, depending on the setup.
Curly locks cactus naturally climbs up trees in the wild with the help of its aerial roots, which makes it an excellent candidate for your vertical wall or trellis garden. When mature, it produces large, scented, pink-to-white blooms at night, which adds to its appeal.
Pro Tip: Mist the aerial roots occasionally to mimic their jungle origins and encourage climbing behavior.
3. Snake Cactus
Botanical Name: Selenicereus testudo
Here is a rare climber that is a gem among cactus lovers. Unlike many other trailing types, Snake Cactus features long, thin, cylindrical stems that coil and stretch toward nearby support structures, making it a true climbing cactus.
Native to the cloud forests of Mexico, it prefers humidity and warmth, and its stems can grow over 6 feet long when happy. With time, it will reward your patience with stunning white flowers that bloom at night.
Pro Tip: Provide a rough-textured trellis or bark pole to help the stems latch on naturally.
4. Night-Blooming Cereus
Botanical Name: Hylocereus undatus
Known widely as the dragon fruit cactus, this climbing cactus is as edible as it is ornamental. With triangular, fleshy stems that can climb walls, trees, or fences using aerial roots, it produces exotic-looking flowers followed by the famous pink fruits.
It’s a vigorous grower in warm climates and can reach impressive heights when appropriately trained. Although it needs full sun to fruit, you can give it partial shade in extremely hot zones.
Pro Tip: Prune regularly to encourage branching and better flowering.
5. Rat Tail Cactus
Botanical Name: Disocactus flagelliformis
The trailing stems of Rat Tail become climbing when you give it vertical space and support. It naturally scrambles across rocks and branches in its native range, which makes it perfect for a vertical mount or wall garden.
Its stems are covered in soft spines, and when mature, you will see them explode with pink flowers in spring. It does best in bright, filtered light, and you can give it a bit of humidity for best health. Wrap the stems loosely around a trellis or wire grid to coax them upward.
6. Weberocereus Tunilla
Botanical Name: Weberocereus tunilla
Weberocereus Tunilla is a lesser-known epiphytic climbing cactus that thrives in high humidity and filtered light. Its leaf-like stems resemble those of Epiphyllum, but its growth habit is more vine-like, which naturally scales trees in the wild with the help of aerial roots.
What makes it special is its small, delicate pink to white flowers that bloom sporadically. Also, its ability to weave through supports creates a jungle-like vibe. You will rarely find this in mainstream nurseries, which makes it a treasure in specialized cactus collections.
Pro Tip: Mount it on a bark slab or grow it up a moss-covered pole to mimic its natural habitat.
7. Yellow Dragon Fruit
Botanical Name: Selenicereus megalanthus
This species produces yellow dragon fruits and is a natural climber with vigorous, sprawling stems. Yellow dragon fruit uses aerial roots to grip onto trees and walls and thrives in full to partial sun with adequate warmth.
Its bright yellow fruits have white flesh and a sweeter taste than the common red dragon fruit. The climbing nature makes it an excellent option for your trellises, pergolas, or wire fencing.
Pro Tip: Support the stems early, and thin them out yearly for better airflow and fruit production.
8. Orchid Cactus
Botanical Name: Epiphyllum hybrids
If you love dramatic flowers, the Orchid cactus is a must-have. These epiphytic cacti climb trees in the wild, using aerial roots for support while displaying their oversized blooms. Orchid cacti are perfect for mounting or growing on your vertical frames in bright but indirect light.
For these to thrive, go for regular feeding during the growing season, which enhances their spectacular flowering display. Most Orchid cactus hybrids bloom in late spring to summer, and each flower can last for several days compared to other night-blooming species. Just use a well-draining, organic-rich mix to mimic the forest floor for vigorous growth.
9. Barbados Gooseberry
Botanical Name: Pereskia aculeata
This is a true oddball in the cactus family, and looks more like a leafy vine than a cactus. It produces long, woody stems with thorns and can climb over 30 feet when you support it.
Aside from its climbing habit, Barbados Gooseberry bears edible yellow-orange berries, which add utility to its ornamental appeal.
Also, its ability to thrive in tropical and subtropical climates makes it a versatile addition to vertical gardens. Gardeners also value its high protein content in the leaves, which are edible and consumed in some traditional cuisines.
Pro Tip: Train it on strong trellises or fences and prune regularly to manage its vigorous growth.
10. Curly Sue
Botanical Name: Epiphyllum guatemalense f. monstrose
Grow this variety of Epiphyllum, which is known for its twisted, ribbon-like stems that coil and climb. Its quirky growth pattern adds instant texture and movement to your vertical plant displays.
Although it doesn’t bloom as heavily as other Epiphyllums, the curly stems make it a collector’s favorite. It thrives in moderate light and benefits from humidity for best growth. Plus, curly Sue can produce fragrant, pink-purple flowers if you give it ideal conditions.
Pro Tip: Provide a vertical moss pole or hanging frame to show off its twisting growth habit.
Climbing cacti are a great way to add height and interest to your garden. Pick one you like, give it support, and watch it grow.
