Echinocereus

There is about 100 taxa of Echinocereus living from Mexico to the south of the United States. The first part of the genus name Echinocereus is coming from the Greek for 'hedgehog', while the second part 'cereus' comes from the Latin for 'large candle'. They branches readily, over time making mounds 3 feet in diameter and 1 feet tall. This gave them the name of Hedgehog Cactus. The different species have a large range of colors from green to yellow, pink, orange, and red. The flowers are goblet shaped and stay open day and night. They are followed by showy red fruits.

Some Echinocereus are very frost resistant and can go to temperatures below 0°F (-17°C).

As is often the case in cactus genera, the bigger species will take full sun while the smaller species like some shade.

The Echinocereus are propagated by seeds or cuttings. The thicker-stemmed species are generally more successful from seeds.

Species and varieties
Echinocereus ctenoides (Texas Rainbow Hedgehog, Yellow pitaya) synonym of Echinocereus dasyacanthus
Echinocereus dasyacanthus (Texas Rainbow Hedgehog, Yellow pitaya)
Echinocereus engelmannii (Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus, Hedgehog Cactus)
Echinocereus engelmannii var. acicularis (Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus, Hedgehog Cactus) synonym of Echinocereus engelmannii
Echinocereus engelmannii var. chrysocentrus (Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus, Hedgehog Cactus) synonym of Echinocereus engelmannii
Echinocereus engelmannii var. purpureus (Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus, Hedgehog Cactus) synonym of Echinocereus engelmannii
Echinocereus engelmannii var. variegatus (Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus, Hedgehog Cactus) synonym of Echinocereus engelmannii
Echinocereus hildmannii (Texas Rainbow Hedgehog, Yellow pitaya) synonym of Echinocereus dasyacanthus
Echinocereus knippelianus (Peyote Verde)
Echinocereus knippelianus subsp. kruegeri (Peyote Verde) synonym of Echinocereus knippelianus
Echinocereus knippelianus subsp. reyesii (Peyote Verde) synonym of Echinocereus knippelianus
Echinocereus munzii (Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus, Hedgehog Cactus) synonym of Echinocereus engelmannii
Echinocereus pectinatus (Comb Hedgehog)
Echinocereus pectinatus chrysacanthus (Comb Hedgehog) synonym of Echinocereus pectinatus
Echinocereus pectinatus v. rigidissimus (Arizona Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus, Cabeza de Viejo) synonym of Echinocereus rigidissimus
Echinocereus pectinatus var. dasyacanthus (Texas Rainbow Hedgehog, Yellow pitaya) synonym of Echinocereus dasyacanthus
Echinocereus pectinatus var. neomexicanus (Texas Rainbow Hedgehog, Yellow pitaya) synonym of Echinocereus dasyacanthus
Echinocereus pectinatus var. saltilloenis (Comb Hedgehog) synonym of Echinocereus pectinatus
Echinocereus rigidissimus (Arizona Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus, Cabeza de Viejo)
Echinocereus rigidissimus var. neomexicanus (Texas Rainbow Hedgehog, Yellow pitaya) synonym of Echinocereus dasyacanthus
Echinocereus serpentinus (Junco Espinoso, Reina de la Noche) synonym of Peniocereus serpentinus
Echinocereus spachianus (Golden Torch Cereus) synonym of Echinopsis spachiana
Echinocereus triglochidiatus (Claret Cup, Strawberry Cactus)
Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. paucispinus (Claret Cup, Strawberry Cactus) synonym of Echinocereus triglochidiatus

© 2004 Philippe Faucon, All Rights Reserved.