The hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus engelmannii) is a lovely small native cactus that has spectacular blooms. It comes in a number of varieties in the wild.
The flowers are usually hot pink, 2-3 inches in diameter, and bloom between February and June. Bees and other pollinators love the flowers. The plant itself is usually about a foot tall and wide at maturity, which makes it a great candidate for smaller spaces and as a small addition to cactus gardens. However, be aware that hedgehogs tend to grow in clusters, with up to 60 separate stems seen in the wild. Thus over time, your plant may end up with multiple stems and thus be considerably wider. Take this into account when choosing a planting site.
The fruit of the plant is edible (once the spines are removed) and can be eaten raw or boiled. The plant has long spines — up to 3 inches — so it is not a great candidate for areas near walking paths. Care must be taken during planting as well.
Like all native cacti, it thrives in full sun, well-draining but poor soil, and does not respond well to over-watering. Once established, it won’t need supplemental water, although you may want to water it a bit during long hot spells before monsoon rains come. It can also be grown in pots as long as the drainage is good. It grows anywhere below around 7,000 feet in our area, so it’s a good plant for higher elevations.
The hedgehog cactus is pretty easy to find in most nurseries, particularly ones that specialize in cacti. The plants are also easily propagated from stem cuttings and from seeds.
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