The Fenton Art Glass Company Cactus pattern was inspired by the Indiana Tumbler & Goblet Company (Greentown) pattern No. 375 which was produced in 1901-1903 in Greentown, Indiana. This Greentown pattern has been called both "Cactus" and "Panelled Agave," with "Cactus" being the name preferred by collectors since the 1930s when J. Stanley Brothers coined the name "Cactus" when he was writing for HOBBIES magazine.  Most of the original Greentown Cactus pieces were made in Chocolate Glass but the four colors included Canary, Chocolate, Clear Opalescent, and Nile Green.

The Fenton Art Glass Company introduced Cactus in January 1959 in the Milk Glass and Topaz Opalescent colors. Topaz Opalescent did not sell as well as the Milk Glass.  Fenton discontinued production of most of the Topaz Opalescent items at the end of 1960, but continued producing the Milk Glass pieces by the end of 1960 with a few exceptions. All of the items in Milk Glass were discontinued by the end of 1962, except for the 3450-MI Bud Vase which remained in the line through 1964.  These early items are not marked, as Fenton did not start using the Fenton logo until 1972. All of the Fenton Cactus pieces were produced from new moulds made by Fenton mouldmakers. In 1959, Cactus became one of the first patterns in which Fenton used their new denser and more opaque white color of Milk Glass.

The 3445 10 oz. Goblet was also made in Colonial Amber, Colonial Blue, and Colonial Pink in 1962.  The Fenton Cactus pattern is also documented in the book "Fenton Glass: The Third Twenty Five Years" by William Heacock and edited by James Measell, current Historian for the Fenton Art Glass Company in West Virginia. According to James Measel, "quite a few of the Fenton Cactus pieces were created by making different items from the same mould."

Fenton also produced and distributed certain pieces from their Cactus moulds as the "Desert Tree" pattern in their "Olde Virginia" line. which was a completely separate glass line that was produced by Fenton and sold to wholesale houses and organizations which sold through catalogues. The Desert Tree pattern is documented in the Olde Virginia Glass section of the book "Fenton Art Glass Colors and Hand-Painted Decorations 1938-1980."

In 1980, Levay Distributing Company, owned and managed by Gary & Dodie Levi, marketed 400 limited edition Aqua Opalescent Carnival 7-piece Pitcher Sets which were made by Fenton and included a large pitcher and six 10 oz. goblets. In 1982, the Cactus pattern reappeared in the Red Sunset Carnival and Chocolate colors.  The 3480 Cracker Jar was made in Chocolate as part of an assortment that Fenton produced for Levay.

A Topaz Opalescent  Cactus  Water  Set was offered as  part of the limited edition Collector's Extravaganza series for 1988. The set was comprised of six 10 oz. goblems and a large water pitcher which varied from 10 1/2" to 15" in height.  All of the 1988 items have the Fenton oval logo in the center of their bases.   

The 3488 Candy Box (which is the same item as the 3408 Covered Sugar Bowl) was reintroduced in the line in 1995 and was still being made as late as 1997 in Fenton's popular Dusty Rose color.  The candy box was also made in Spruce Green for the 1995 Holiday Season as a special edition.

Fenton made the 3429-PQ Champagne Satin Comport in 1997 which is one of the later pieces which was never produced in Topaz Opalescent.

The most recent Fenton Cactus item made was the Ice Blue Iridescent 9" Basket in 2000, and at least one of these baskets with the twisted rope handle was produced in the Willow Green Opalescent color.  Fenton Cactus in Topaz Opalescent is one of the most collectible  patterns among Vaseline Glass collectors.

Special thanks to Denny & Marilyn Tuttle, Dave Peterson, James Measell, and Bing Hilton for their assistance with the documentation and photographs on these Fenton Cactus pages.