Scientific Name
Echinocereus scheeri subsp .gentryi (Clover) N.P. Taylor
Synonym(s)
Echinocereus gentryi, Echinocereus scheeri var. gentryi, Echinocereus cucumis
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Pachycereeae
Genus: Echinocereus
Origin
Echinocereus scheeri subsp. gentryi is native to Mexico.
Description
Echinocereus scheeri subsp. gentryi is a branched cactus with cylindrical stems with 4 to 5 ribs and very short spines. The stems can grow up to 2 feet (60 cm) long.
The showy flowers are pale pink, trumpet-shaped, and can reach up to 6 inches (15 cm) in length. They appear in spring and remain fully open for most of the day and night. The bright green fruits with white pulp and black seeds 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, 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 intense, bright light, slight 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 do not damage their roots.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Echinocereus.
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
Photo Gallery
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