Scientific Name
Echinocereus scheeri (Salm-Dyck) Scheer
Synonym(s)
Cereus salm-dyckianus, Cereus scheeri, Echinocereus rischeri, Echinocereus salmianus
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Pachycereeae
Genus: Echinocereus
Origin
Echinocereus scheeri is native to Mexico.
Description
Echinocereus scheeri is a clump-forming cactus with green cylindrical stems with 6 to 10 ribs lined with clusters of white spines with brown or blackish tips. The stems are prostrate or ascending and can grow up to 28 inches (70 cm) long and 1.6 inches (4 cm) in diameter.
The flowers are red, purple, scarlet, pink, or salmon-orange and appear in spring on the sides of the stems from sharply pointed buds. They can last for a week or more, remaining open at night and closing somewhat during the hottest part of the day. The flowers are trumpet-shaped and can reach up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) in length and 3 inches (7.5 cm) in diameter. The fruits are oval, bright green with white pulp and black seeds, and can grow up to 0.8 inches (2 cm) long.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
If you can grow other globular cacti successfully, you can most likely grow Echinocereus well. One key factor in success with these is avoiding any hint of wet soil. Because their root systems are weak, they are especially prone to root rot, which eventually kills your plant. Otherwise, they thrive on a program of intense light, little water, and a steady diet of light fertilizer. These cacti are vulnerable to mealybugs and aphids.
Echinocereus are slow-growing cacti 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, remove it from its pot and remove any clumped soil. These plants tend to be shallow-rooted with weak root systems, so take care not to damage their roots.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Echinocereus.
Subspecies, Varieties, and Cultivars
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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