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All the United States Nevada Henderson Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden

Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden

Nevada's largest cactus collection stands outside a candy mogul's small factory.

Henderson, Nevada

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Britta Shoot
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Ethel M Cactus Botanical Garden.   Brian Whitmarsh/cc by 2.0
Cactus.   rayb777
Rare cactus: the power cactus.   Kristina D.C. Hoeppner/cc by-sa 2.0
Ethel M Cactus Garden.   Jason Brisch/cc by 2.0
Ethel M. Chocolate Cactus Garden.   Lindsey B/cc by-sa 2.0
Holiday light show   Avoiding Regret (Used with permission)
Holiday cholla   Avoiding Regret (Used with permission)
  itsmebrandi / Atlas Obscura User
Saguaro skeleton   Avoiding Regret
  breaingram / Atlas Obscura User
blue palo verde tree in bloom   Avoiding Regret
Walk through the holiday lights display in the cactus garden   TheColorDana / Atlas Obscura User
Prickly pear cactus lit for the holidays   Avoiding Regret (Used with permission)
Holiday lights on a barrel cactus   Avoiding Regret (Used with permission)
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About

Ethel M is Ethel Mars, the matriarch of the family famous for Mars chocolates, including M&Ms. Forrest Edward Mars Sr., while bored after retiring from running Mars, Inc., created a new chocolate company in his mother's honor. Ethel M Chocolates was founded in this Las Vegas suburb in 1981, in part due to Nevada laws allowing the production and sale liqueur-filled chocolates, for which the Ethel M brand has become well known.

While tours of the small confection factory are popular, it also boasts an outdoor feature that’s definitely worth exploring: the four-acre Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden. Over 300 species of cacti and succulents make this Nevada's largest collection of its kind, and one of the biggest in the world.

Roughly half of the desert plants are native to the American Southwest, with another half from Australia, South America, and other parts of the United States. The plants, which are drought-resistant, were all chosen for their for their striking flowers and because they’re capable of adapting to the climate.

The garden is also sustainable. The candy factory recycles 100 percent of its wastewater without using any chemicals, thanks to the help of bacteria, algae, snails, and fish. The water is then used to hydrate the plants, and also attracts a variety of local birds.

Related Tags

Botanical Gardens Plants Gardens Cactus Candy Factories Deserts

Know Before You Go

There is no charge to visit the cactus garden on a self-guided stroll. Guided tours of the garden and chocolate factory cost an entry fee.

Community Contributors

Added By

Britta Shoot

Edited By

Avoiding Regret, itsmebrandi, breaingram, TheColorDana

  • Avoiding Regret
  • itsmebrandi
  • breaingram
  • TheColorDana

Published

November 2, 2018

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  • https://www.ethelm.com/botanical-cactus-garden
  • https://www.ethelm.com/unwrapped-factory-garden-tours
  • https://twitter.com/ethelmchocolate?lang=en
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethel_M_Botanical_Cactus_Garden
  • https://www.vegas.com/attractions/off-the-strip/ethel-m/
Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden
2 Cactus Garden Dr
Henderson, Nevada
United States
36.073904, -115.071898
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