Whether your subject is a single perfect specimen or a thriving garden display, we want to see how cultivation brings these remarkable plants to life.
Theme – From the Garden (Cultivated Plants)
Photos must feature cultivated cacti and other succulents grown in gardens, containers, or greenhouses. For the purposes of this contest, greenhouses are considered gardens, recognizing that many of our members rely on greenhouse growing due to climate challenges.
📅 Entry Period: January 1 – April 1, 2026
🌵 Enter Here: COMING SOON
📸 Winners will be announced in Cactus and Succulent Journal 98-2 and during the CSSA 2026 Annual Show & Sale – June 11-14, 2026
Submission Guidelines
- We are seeking visually striking images of succulents and other cacti in sharp focus
- Original photos only, with copyright owned by the entrant
- Each entrant may submit up to three high-resolution JPG images (max 20 MB per image)
- File naming format: Birth Year + City of Residence + image number (e.g., 1965-Altadena-01.jpg)
- Include the location and year photo taken, and plant name for each image
- All photographic techniques and app editing are allowed—no AI-generated photos
- Entries must be submitted through our website portal
Contest Period
- Start: January 1, 2026, at 12:00 PM (Pacific Time)
- End: April 1, 2026, at 12:00 PM (Pacific Time)
- Submissions outside this window will not be accepted
Eligibility
- Open to all current CSSA members (Standard and Supporting*)
- No entry fee is required
- CSSA board members, employees, judges, and their family members are ineligible
Prizes
- 1st Place: $250
- 2nd Place: $150
- 3rd Place & Honorable Mentions: $50
All winners will be featured in the Cactus and Succulent Journal.
Previous Winners
2022 Winner
– Rob Skillen, Central Coast Club
2024 Winner
2023 Winner
– Lukas Liebischer, Ventura, CA
2025 Winner
Our 2026 Jurors
This year’s entries will be judged by a panel of jurors with both an art background and expertise in the succulent hobby.
Irwin Lightstone
Irwin is a renowned professional photographer featured in National Geographic and CSSA publications. He serves as the Vice President of the CSSA board and chair of the conservation committee.
Kelly Griffin
Kelly is a published author and plant hybridizer for Altman Specialty Plants in Vista, CA, with nearly four decades of experience photographing succulent habitats, especially the genus Dudleya. He serves on the CSSA board and is the President of the San Diego Cactus & Succulent Society.
Ann Hopkinson
Ann is a member of the Conejo Cactus and Succulent Society formerly holding the positions of Secretary and Vice President. She is serving her first term as a Director on the CSSA Board. Ann is a life-long lover of plants and earned a BS in Plant Science. Ann enjoys photographing cacti and other succulents.
John Martinez
John is an artist and CSSA board member with a passion for xeric plants and photography. He is the chair of the Affiliates Committee.
Vonn Watkins
Vonn brings decades of experience as a photographer, designer, and cactus specialist to his role as a CSSA Photo Contest juror. Introduced to cacti and succulents while growing up in North Carolina, he later studied graphic design and photography, earning a BFA from East Tennessee State University before moving west to explore and document cactus-rich landscapes across the western U.S. and Mexico. A longtime member and current Vice President and Program Director of the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society, Vonn has organized hundreds of educational programs and helped found the TCSS plant rescue program and Pima Prickly Park. He is a board member of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America, a co-author of Field Guide to Cacti & Other Succulents of Arizona, and a retired graphic designer with 30 years at the Arizona Daily Star, bringing a trained eye for both botanical accuracy and visual excellence.
Contest Details
The Fine Print
By entering, participants grant CSSA a royalty-free, perpetual license to use their photos, name, city, and state in CSSA publications, social media, fundraising ventures, and web content. Entries may not be modified or withdrawn once submitted.
CSSA is not responsible for late, lost, or misdirected entries or technical issues. Participants engaging in cheating, deception, or harassment will be disqualified.
* Members of CSSA Affiliate Clubs are eligible for a $10 discounted Supporting Membership through their local club. Contact your Affiliate Rep for more information.
Featured photo in credited to Irwin Lightstone
