Cactus and Succulent Societies
What is a Cactus and Succulent Society?
A cactus and succulent society is a member organization dedicated to the cultivation, study, and conservation of cacti and other succulent plants. Societies range from local regional clubs that host monthly meetings, annual shows, and field trips, to national parent bodies like the Cactus and Succulent Society of America and the British Cactus and Succulent Society, to international specialist groups focused on a single plant family. Most publish a journal or newsletter, run plant sales, and pass cultivation knowledge between generations of growers.
United States 47 societies
Cactus and Succulent Society of AmericaNational parent
The American national parent body. Publishes the quarterly Cactus and Succulent Journal, runs the biennial CSSA convention, and coordinates a network of regional affiliate societies across the country.
Visit cactusandsucculentsociety.orgEpiphyllum Society of AmericaSpecialist
International specialist body for epiphytic cacti. Maintains the International Epiphyllum Registry.
Visit epiphyllums.orgOrange County Cactus and Succulent SocietySpecialist
Founded as the interest group at Fullerton Arboretum's first Green Scene.
Visit occss.orgSan Diego Epiphyllum SocietySpecialist
Specialist epiphyllum society with over 50 years of history.
Visit sdepis.orgWest 22
Cactus and Succulent Society of New Mexico
Statewide New Mexico society with a strong native-Southwest interest.
Visit cactussocietynm.orgCactus and Succulent Society of San Jose
South Bay regional society. Meets at Emma Prusch Farm Park.
Visit csssj.orgCactus and Succulent Society of Southern Nevada
Mojave-belt society, affiliated with the Nevada Garden Clubs.
Visit nevadagardenclubs.org/building-events/cactus-and-succulent-societyCascade Cactus and Succulent Society
Pacific Northwest cold-hardy growers.
Visit cascadecss.comCentral Arizona Cactus and Succulent Society
One of the largest single-club memberships in America. Hosted at the Desert Botanical Garden.
Visit centralarizonacactus.orgCentral Coast Cactus and Succulent Society
California Central Coast society.
Visit centralcoastcactus.orgChinle Cactus and Succulent Society
Western Slope and Four Corners region.
Visit chinlecactusclub.orgConejo Cactus and Succulent Society
Conejo Valley and Thousand Oaks region.
Visit conejocss.comFresno Cactus and Succulent Society
Founded 17 February 1965. Meets first Thursday at Redeemer Lutheran Church.
Visit fresnocss.comGates Cactus and Succulent Society
Named for Howard E. Gates. Inland Empire society serving California's eastern desert valleys.
Visit gatescactusandsucculentsociety.comLong Beach Cactus Club
Self-described as the oldest continuously running cactus and succulent club in America. Meets first Sunday at the Woman's Club of Bellflower.
Visit longbeachcactusclub.orgLos Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society
Around 200 members. Long roster of researcher-members in its history.
Visit lacactus.comMonterey Bay Area Cactus and Succulent Society
Central Coast California society.
Visit mbsucculent.orgNorthwest Horticultural Society
Pacific Northwest society for gardeners and plant lovers across the Puget Sound region. Founded to support the University of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture and the Elisabeth C. Miller Library, with lectures, garden tours, and a quarterly newsletter.
Visit northwesthort.orgPalomar Cactus and Succulent Society
North San Diego County's newer regional club.
Visit palomarcactus.orgSacramento Cactus and Succulent Society
State capital society.
Visit sacramentocss.comSan Diego Cactus and Succulent Society
Major Southern California society. Meets at Casa del Prado, Balboa Park.
Visit sdcss.netSan Francisco Succulent and Cactus Society
Bay Area society with annual June Show and Sale. 501(c)(3) non-profit.
Visit sfsucculent.orgSan Gabriel Valley Cactus and Succulent Society
San Gabriel Valley society.
Visit sgvcss.comSanta Barbara Cactus and Succulent Society
Coastal central California.
Visit sbcactus.orgSouth Coast Cactus and Succulent Society
Coastal South Bay society. Maintains an excellent reference links page.
Visit southcoastcss.orgTucson Cactus and Succulent Society
Sonoran Desert specialist focus. Runs a long-standing cactus rescue program.
Visit tucsoncactus.orgCentral 13
Austin Cactus and Succulent Society
Meets third Thursday at the Zilker Botanical Garden.
Visit austincss.comCactus and Succulent Society of Greater Chicago
Founded 1976. Meets monthly at the River Forest Community Center and publishes the Prickly Points newsletter. Holds an annual show and sale at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Visit cssgc.orgCentral Ohio Cactus and Succulent Society
Over forty years of fellowship among Columbus-area collectors. Meets the third Wednesday of each month at Franklin Park Conservatory and runs a popular annual plant sale.
Visit columbuscactusclub.comCentral Oklahoma Cactus and Succulent Society
Meets third Thursday at the Will Rogers Gardens. Active reference page.
Visit oklahomacactus.comEl Paso Cactus and Rock Club
Established 1937. Meets at the Memorial Park Garden Center, focuses on Chihuahuan Desert conservation and plant rescue, and publishes the quarterly newsletter The Areole.
Visit elpasodesert.com/epcrcFort Worth Cactus and Succulent Society
North Texas regional society.
Visit fwcss.orgHenry Shaw Cactus and Succulent Society
Named for Henry Shaw, founder of the Missouri Botanical Garden. The largest dedicated cactus and succulent group in the American Midwest.
Visit hscactus.orgHouston Cactus and Succulent Society
Founded March 1963. Meets at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center on West Gray Street.
Visit hcsstex.comMichigan Cactus and Succulent Society
Michigan's regional society for cold-climate growers.
Visit michigancactus.orgMid-Iowa Cactus and Succulent Society
Iowa's regional society for cold-climate growers.
Visit micss.orgMidwest Cactus and Succulent Society
Greater Cleveland regional society.
Visit mwcss.comNorth Texas Cactus and Succulent Society
Formed February 1974. First Tuesday meetings, except January.
Visit ntcss.cactus-society.orgSan Antonio Cactus and Xerophyte Society
Broader xerophyte interest beyond Cactaceae alone. Hosts the Mid-States Conference.
Visit sacxs.orgEast 8
Cactus and Succulent Society of Massachusetts
New England's regional society for indoor cold-climate cultivation.
Visit cssma.orgChesapeake Cactus and Succulent Society
Chesapeake regional society, joined CSSA 2026.
Visit chesapeakecactus.orgConnecticut Cactus and Succulent Society
Statewide Connecticut society. Meets on the first Sunday of each month at various locations across Connecticut and hosts an Annual Show & Sale in Bristol, CT.
Visit ctcactussociety.orgNational Capital Cactus and Succulent Society
Meets monthly September through June at Saint Anselm's Abbey School in northeast Washington. Holds its annual plant show and sale at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland each August.
Visit washington-dc.cactus-society.orgNew York Cactus and Succulent Society
The Northeast's flagship urban club. Meets third Thursday on Madison Avenue.
Visit nycss.orgPhiladelphia Cactus and Succulent Society
Greater Philadelphia regional society.
Visit philacactus.orgSarasota Succulent Society
Long-established Florida society with the tagline Promoting Succulents Since 1950.
Visit sarasotasucculentsociety.orgSouth Florida Cactus and Succulent Society
Sub-tropical Florida society.
Visit sfloridacactus.orgMexico 1 societies
Sociedad Mexicana de CactologíaNational parent
Mexico's national parent body. Publishes the journal Cactáceas y Suculentas Mexicanas, a foundational reference for in-country taxonomy and habitat work.
Visit mexican.cactus-society.orgCanada 4 societies
Toronto Cactus and Succulent ClubNational parent
Major Eastern Canada club. Meets at the Toronto Botanical Garden, with annual show, sale, and a long-running photographic competition.
Visit torontocactus.clubCactus and Succulent Society of Alberta
Cold-climate society serving Alberta growers.
Visit albertacactusandsucculent.orgDesert Plant Society of Vancouver
Active Pacific Coast society.
Visit desertplantsocietyofvancouver.comVictoria Cactus and Succulent Society
Vancouver Island community society.
Visit vcss.infoRest of World 45 societies
International specialist bodies 2
Mesemb Study GroupSpecialist
International specialist body for the Aizoaceae (Lithops, Conophytum, Pleiospilos, and the rest of the mesembs). Publishes the MSG Bulletin.
Visit mesemb.orgThe Haworthia SocietySpecialist
International specialist body for Haworthia, Gasteria, and Astroloba. UK-based with global membership.
Visit haworthia.orgCzech Republic 27
Společnost českých a slovenských pěstitelů kaktusůNational parent
Czech and Slovak national parent association. Coordinates a network of regional kluby across both countries.
Visit cs-kaktusy.czKlub kaktusářů Benešov
Central Bohemian regional klub.
Visit cactaceae.czKlub kaktusářů Brno (Astrophytum)
Brno-based klub. Includes a Gymnocalycium specialist sub-section.
Visit astrophytum.czKlub kaktusářů Břeclav
South Moravian regional klub.
Visit ceskykaktusar.webnode.czKlub kaktusářů Dvůr Králové
East Bohemian regional klub.
Visit kaktusy-dk.czKlub kaktusářů Děčín
North Bohemian regional klub on the Elbe.
Visit kaktusy.decin.czKlub kaktusářů Havířov
Moravian-Silesian regional klub.
Visit kaktusarihavirov.czKlub kaktusářů Hradec Králové
East Bohemian regional klub.
Visit kaktusyhk.czKlub kaktusářů Jihlava
Vysočina region klub.
Visit kkjihlava.estranky.czKlub kaktusářů Kladno
Central Bohemian regional klub.
Visit kaktusarikladno.webnode.czKlub kaktusářů Kolín
Central Bohemian regional klub on the Elbe.
Visit kaktusari.estranky.czKlub kaktusářů Milín
Central Bohemian regional klub on a branded domain.
Visit kaktusari.czKlub kaktusářů Nový Bydžov
East Bohemian regional klub.
Visit kaktusarinb.czKlub kaktusářů Olomouc
The historic Czech cactus hotspot.
Visit carciton.cz/kaktusyKlub kaktusářů Ostrava
Moravian-Silesian regional klub in the Czech industrial north-east.
Visit pavko.cz/kkoKlub kaktusářů Pardubice
East Bohemian regional klub.
Visit kaktusypce.webnode.czKlub kaktusářů Plzeň
West Bohemian regional klub in the city of Pilsen.
Visit kkplzen.euKlub kaktusářů Přerov
Central Moravian regional klub.
Visit kkp.unas.czKlub kaktusářů Rakovník
Central Bohemian regional klub.
Visit kkrakovnik.estranky.czKlub kaktusářů Tábor
South Bohemian regional klub.
Visit kaktusy-sukulenty.net/taborklub.htmKlub kaktusářů Uherské Hradiště
Moravian Slovak region klub.
Visit kaktusariuh.czKlub kaktusářů Ústí nad Labem
North Bohemian regional klub.
Visit kkul.czKlub kaktusářů Ústí nad Orlicí
East Bohemian regional klub in the Orlické Mountains foothills.
Visit kaktusari-uo.czKlub kaktusářů Český Těšín
Czech Silesian regional klub on the Polish border.
Visit kktesin.webnode.czKlub kvetoucích kaktusů Zlín
South-East Moravian regional klub. The name translates as Club of Flowering Cacti.
Visit kvetouci-kaktusy.czSPKS Sokolov
Karlovy Vary region klub in the Ore Mountains foothills.
Visit spks-sokolov.czSpolek pěstitelů kaktusů a sukulentů Praha
Capital city society. Notable Frailea and Notocactus interest.
Visit spks.czFrance and Monaco 7
A.R.I.D.E.S.
French research association for deserts and succulents. Publishes the international magazine Cactus Aventures.
Visit arides.infoAJEM (Amis du Jardin Exotique de Monaco)
Friends of the Jardin Exotique de Monaco. Publishes the journal Cactus and Succulentes.
Visit amisjem.comArmorique Cactus Succulentes
Brittany regional society.
Visit armorique-cactus-succulentes.comCouleurs Cactus
French general society for cactus and succulent enthusiasts.
Visit couleurs-cactus.frFar Est Cactus
Active Lorraine regional association in north-eastern France.
Visit farest.frGRAPES (Roscoff Exotic Plants)
Roscovite group of exotic-plant enthusiasts, tied to the Roscoff exotic garden.
Visit jardinexotiqueroscoff.comSNACPG (Société Nantaise des Amateurs de Cactus et Plantes Grasses)
Nantes-based regional society in western France. Active on Facebook since its website closed.
Visit facebook.com/SNACPGBelgium 2
Cactussen and Vetplanten vzw
Flemish cactus and succulent society. Co-publishes the journal CaVeKa, eleven issues a year.
Visit sites.google.com/view/cactussenvetplantenGrusonia, Royal Belgian Cactus and Succulent Society
The Royal Belgian Cactus and Succulent Society. National in scope.
Visit grusonia.beOther Europe 3
Irish Cactus and Succulent SocietyNational parent
Independent Irish national society. Affiliated culturally with the British Cactus and Succulent Society.
Visit irelandcactus.comSucculenta NederlandNational parent
Dutch national parent body. Coordinates 21 regional afdelingen across the Netherlands.
Visit succulenta.nlCACSUMA (Cactus y Suculentas de Madrid)
Madrid regional society. Publishes the E-Boletín.
Visit cacsuma.comAustralia and New Zealand 4
Cactus and Succulent Society of New ZealandNational parent
New Zealand's national parent body. Branches in Auckland, New Plymouth, Manawatu, Wellington-Hutt, Hawke's Bay, and Christchurch. Tri-annual journal.
Visit ashleybrownart.wixsite.com/cssnzCSSNZ Auckland Branch
Auckland regional branch of the Cactus and Succulent Society of New Zealand.
Visit akcactus.org.nzCactus and Succulent Society of South Australia
South Australian state society. Long-established.
Visit csssa.org.auCactus and Succulent Society of Western Australia
Perth-based state society for Western Australia's dry-climate growers.
Visit csswa.org.auThis index is maintained by hand. For revisions, additions or removals, please reach out: brian@rarecactus.com.