1. Cacti needles are actually leaves! Instead of flat green leaves that lose water in the hot sun, cactus leaves shrank over time into sharp, pointy needles. These prickly needles protect the plant from thirsty animals looking for a drink and shield it from the blazing sun.

2. They store water inside like a giant sponge. Cacti are succulent plants, which means their thick, fleshy stems act like water reservoirs. After a rare desert rainstorm, a large cactus can soak up and store thousands of gallons of water to last through months of drought!

3. Some giant cacti live for hundreds of years. The majestic saguaro cactus can live between 150 and 200 years! They grow so slowly that it takes them about 10 years just to reach the height of a tiny pickle.

4. They have root systems that spread out like a spiderweb. Instead of growing deep taproots straight down, desert cacti send out hundreds of shallow roots just inches below the soil surface. This lets them quickly catch every single drop of rain before it evaporates in the hot sand.

5. Cactus flowers bloom in dazzling, bright colors. Even though they live in harsh, dry deserts, cacti produce gorgeous flowers in shades of pink, yellow, red, and white. Some species only open their flowers at night under the moonlight!

6. Bats, bees, and birds love cactus nectar. Desert animals rely on blooming cacti for food. Bats, hummingbirds, and honeybees drink the sweet nectar inside the flowers, and as they fly around, they pollinate other cacti so new plants can grow.

7. Prickly pear cacti grow edible fruit called "tunas." Not all cactus parts are prickly! The fruit of the prickly pear cactus is sweet, juicy, and safe to eat. People (and desert animals like tortoises and javelinas) love snacking on them.