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Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus Wikimedia Commons
Cactaceae

Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus

Echinocereus triglochidiatus

Desert perseverance.

Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Echinocereus
Native to
Southwestern United States, Mexico
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
cactus
Height
0.5-1 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
sandy, rocky, extremely well-drained
Water
low
Hardiness
5-11
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The brilliant scarlet flowers stay open day and night, unlike many cactus species that bloom only at night.
  • Hummingbirds are the primary pollinators, attracted by the tubular red flowers that are perfectly shaped for their beaks.
  • Claret cup hedgehog cacti can form massive mounds of over 500 individual stems in the wild.
  • This cactus is remarkably cold-hardy for a desert plant, surviving temperatures down to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Native Americans traditionally ate the fruits, which taste somewhat like strawberries.

Color meanings

0

endurance

1

inner fire

2

resilience

Uses

  • rock garden plant
  • xeriscape landscaping
  • native plant restoration