diff --git a/mods/default/nodes.lua b/mods/default/nodes.lua
index 03e8f5b6287991d20cfc6041e08523d836556f06..ecbd7a81440a4f0ada341ee23ac3becd76d12762 100644
--- a/mods/default/nodes.lua
+++ b/mods/default/nodes.lua
@@ -338,9 +338,11 @@ minetest.register_node("default:leaves", {
 minetest.register_node("default:cactus", {
 	description = "Cactus",
 	tiles = {"default_cactus_top.png", "default_cactus_top.png", "default_cactus_side.png"},
+	paramtype2 = "facedir",
 	is_ground_content = true,
 	groups = {snappy=1,choppy=3,flammable=2},
 	sounds = default.node_sound_wood_defaults(),
+	on_place = minetest.rotate_node
 })
 
 minetest.register_node("default:papyrus", {