Hank is a grouchy cactus who likes to sit on a window sill alone in the empty desert. He's perfectly happy until a variety of animals, tumbleweeds, and people pass by his window, greeting him as they go. When a cowboy remarks that nobody hugs a cactus, Hank starts to wonder if he's missing out on something and feels sad. He decides to thank Rosie the tumbleweed for helping him, and his actions inspire a hug that changes everything.