Scientific Name
Echinocereus enneacanthus Engelm.
Common Names
Strawberry Cactus, Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus, Green Strawberry, Green Strawberry Hedgehog, Banana Cactus, Alicoche Banana Cactus, Pitaya, Smallspine Pitaya, Purple Pitaya, Prostrate Hedgehog, Prostrate Hedgehog Cactus, Cob Cactus
Synonyms
Echinocereus enneacanthus subsp. enneacanthus, Echinocereus enneacanthus var. enneacanthus, Cereus dubius, Cereus enneacanthus, Cereus merkeri, Echinocereus dubius, Echinocereus merkeri, Echinocereus sarissophorus, Echinocereus uehri, Echinocereus uspenskii
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Pachycereeae
Genus: Echinocereus
Description
Echinocereus enneacanthus is a clump-forming cactus with green, erect or decumbent stems with slightly curved spines. The stems are cylindrical, up to 3.3 feet (1 m) long, and up to 5.6 inches (14 cm) in diameter. The radial spines are brownish, often tipped or banded with darker brown, and up to 1.5 feet (45 cm) long. The central spines are white, tan, brown, or grey, often nearly black and up to 3 feet (90 cm) long. Flowers are purple-red to pink in varying shades with deep reddish throat and appear early spring during mid-morning. They are funnel-shaped and up to 4.4 inches (11 cm) in diameter.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
If you can successfully grow other globular cactus, you can most likely grow Echinocereus well. One of the key factors in success with these is avoiding any hint of wet soil. Because their root systems are weak, they are especially prone to root rot, eventually killing your plant. Otherwise, they thrive on a program of strong, bright light, slight water, and a steady diet of light fertilizer. Echinocereus is vulnerable to mealybugs and aphids.
Echinocereus are slow-growing cactus that should only need repotting every other year or so. You can prolong the time to repotting by removing plantlets and potting them up in their own pots. When repotting a cactus, carefully remove it from its pot and knock away any clumped soil. These plants tend to be shallow-rooted with weak root systems, so take care not to damage their roots.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Echinocereus.
Origin
This species is native to Mexico and United States (New Mexico and Texas).
Subspecies
Links
- Back to genus Echinocereus
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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