Flower profile

Mountain ball cactus

Pediocactus simpsonii

Native in the lower 48

Mountain ball cactus is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

9states

3of our state lists

7,074U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Colorado, Utah, Wyoming

Quick look

Pediocactus simpsonii, known by the common names mountain cactus, snowball cactus, and mountain ball cactus, is a relatively common cactus that has adapted to survive in cold and dry environments in high elevation areas of the western United States. It can be found at higher elevations than any other cactus in North America.
From Wikipedia's article Pediocactus simpsonii, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Cactaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 9 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. ^NatureServe
In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. ^iNaturalist
In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–June. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 4,789 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #20 among the 110 flowers on our Colorado list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 811 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #75 among the 109 flowers on our Utah list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 572 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #43 among the 107 flowers on our Wyoming list. ^iNaturalist

Mountain ball cactus gift ideas

Handmade mountain ball cactus gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (273 records)

Bloom time in each of our 3 states

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Colorado	Native	April–June	4,789
Utah	Native	March–June	811
Wyoming	Native	April–June	572

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Colorado: No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Colorado.
Utah: No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Utah.
Wyoming: No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Wyoming.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AZ (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Wyoming. ^NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records mountain ball cactus in 9 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Boulder, Chaffee, Clear Creek, Dolores, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Jackson, Jefferson, Larimer, Mineral, Moffat, Montrose, Ouray, Park, Rio Blanco, Routt, San Miguel, Summit, Teller.

Utah counties with USDA records: Beaver, Box Elder, Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Piute, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Washington, Wayne.

Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Campbell, Carbon, Fremont, Laramie, Natrona, Sweetwater, Uinta.

More Colorado flowers

Plains pricklypear

Opuntia polyacantha

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: May–July

Silver cholla

Cylindropuntia echinocarpa

Native

🌼 Blooms: March–May

Spinystar

Escobaria vivipara

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: May–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile PESI.
iNaturalist, Pediocactus simpsonii: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Pediocactus simpsonii (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Colorado: Colorado noxious weed lists A, B and C (8 CCR 1206-2, eff. May 15, 2025).
Utah: Utah noxious weed list (Utah Admin. Code R68-9-3).
Wyoming: Wyoming state designated noxious weeds (W.S. 11-5-102(a)(xi)), as listed by the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council.
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Pediocactus simpsonii (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Gail A Baker via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.