• Purple, yellow, gold and orange sponges and soft corals wave against a turquioise sea.

    Biscayne

    National Park Florida

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  • Elliott Key Harbor and Campground Closed

    Winds, surge and tides associated with Hurricane Sandy caused considerable damage to docks & boardwalk at Elliott Key. The harbor and campground are closed until further notice. University Dock remains open for day use only. More »

Cacti / Desert Succulents

Nature and Science

The world's largest population of semaphore prickly-pear cactus lives in Biscayne National Park.

The following cacti have been documented in the park. They have been sorted alphabetically by common name. The list is not exhaustive, and documented sightings of species not on this list are welcome. Submit your sightings to the webmaster.

Dildoe Cactus, Cereus pentagonus
Erect Pricklypear, Opuntia stricta
Prickly Applecactus, Harrisia aboriginum
Prickly Pear, Opuntia stricta var. dillenii
Semaphore Prickly-pear Cactus, Opuntia corallicola
Triangle Cactus, Acanthocereus tetragonus

Did You Know?

Kids discover small wonders with a park ranger.

For over 30 years, Biscayne National Park has been providing 3-day, 2-night residential camping programs for school groups on one of the park's islands. All equipment and boat transportation are provided free of charge. More...