Echinocereus

Echinocereus is a genus of ribbed, usually small to medium-sized cylindrical cacti, comprising about 50 species from the southern United States and Mexico. They are commonly known as hedgehog cacti, though the term also applies for Pediocactus. The flowers are usually large, and the fruit are edible. Most Echinocereus species prefer full sun. Several of the species are cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures as low as -23°C / -10°F in dry conditions.


Species
Echinocereus engelmannii - The Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus engelmannii) is commonly found in desert areas of the southwestern United States and the adjacent areas of Mexico, including the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Baja California and Sonora. It usually grows in clusters, sometimes up to 20 and more stems. Its bright magenta flowers bloom in April in its southern extremes to late May at northern locations. The flowers are borne at the upper half to one third of the stem. They are funnelform in shape, up to 3.5" long with dark-green stigmas. The fruit is very spiny. At first it is green, becoming pink and drying when ripe. The ripe fruit has spines which are easily detached. The seeds are black, and around 0.1" in size.
The stems are initially cylindrical and erect in young plants, but later with the stem base lying on the ground. The stems are usually 1.5"-3.5" in diameter and up to 25' high, and obscured by heavy spines. The plants have around 10 ribs, which are somewhat flattened and tuberculate.
Spines variable in color and size. Radial spines are shorter and needlelike, up to 0.8" long, white and arranged in a neat rosette. Central spines number 2-7, and are stout, usually twisted or angular, up to 3" long and variable in color: bright yellow, dark brown, grey, and white.
Echinocereus engelmannii is commonly used as a landscape plant in its native areas. In pot culture it requires well aerated gritty substrate, and a hot and sunny location in the summer. In the winter the plant easily tolerates light frost and wet (if well-drained) soil. In cultivation it usually does not bloom until it develops 2-3 branches.

Echinocereus reichenbachii - The popular name is Lace Cactus (due to the look of the spines). This cylindrical shaped cactus generally grows solitary in Mexico and Southern USA. It has been found as far north as Oklahoma. Echinocereus reichenbachii is one of the smaller echinocereus species. Lace Cactus is cold-hardy and endures frost as long as it is kept dry.

Echinocereus triglochidiatus is a species of hedgehog cactus known by several common names, including kingcup cactus, claretcup, and Mojave mound cactus. This cactus is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it is a resident of varied habitats from low desert to rocky slopes, scrub, and mountain woodland. It is most abundant in shady areas. There are a number of varieties of this highly variable cactus species, but not all are universally recognized. In general it is a mounding cactus, forming bulbous piles of few to hundreds of spherical to cylindrical stems. It is densely spiny and somewhat woolly. The showy flower is a funnel shaped bloom up to 8 or 9 centimeters wide and bright scarlet red to orange-red tepals. There is a thick nectar chamber and many thready pink stamens at the center of the corolla. The flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds.

Echinocereus websterianus

Echinocereus cinerascens

Echinocereus ledingii

Echinocereus enneacanthus

Echinocereus stramineus

Echinocereus barthelowanus

Echinocereus pectinatus

Echinocereus viridiflorus

Echinocereus fasciculatus

Echinocereus fendleri

Echinocereus knippelianus

Echinocereus chloranthus

Echinocereus rigidissimus

Echinocereus milleri

Echinocereus nicholii

Echinocereus nivosus

Echinocereus pacificus

Echinocereus apachensis

Echinocereus bonkerae

Echinocereus boyce-thompsonii

Echinocereus brandegeei

Echinocereus coccineus

Echinocereus ctenoides

Echinocereus acifer

Echinocereus dasyacanthus

Echinocereus pentalophus

Echinocereus papillosus

Echinocereus adustus

Echinocereus polyacanthus

Echinocereus salm-dyckianus

Echinocereus russanthus

Echinocereus scheeri

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