Scientific Name
Echinocereus viridiflorus Engelm.
Common Name(s)
Nylon Hedgehog Cactus, Small-flowered Hedgehog Cactus, Small-flower Hedgehog Cactus, Green Pitaya, Green-flowered Pitaya, Green-flower Pitaya, Green-flowered Torch Cactus, Green-flower Torch Cactus, Green Hedgehog, Green-flower Hedgehog Cactus, Gold-spine Hedgehog Cactus, Golden Spine Hedgehog, Varied Hedgehog, Varied Hedgehog Cactus
Synonym(s)
Cereus viridiflorus, Echinocactus viridiflorus, Echinocereus chloranthus, Echinocereus standleyi
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Pachycereeae
Genus: Echinocereus
Description
Echinocereus viridiflorus is a small cactus with spherical or cylindrical stems that grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) and up to 3.6 inches (9 cm) in diameter. It is mostly unbranched, but it may occur in squat clusters of several stems. The stems are ridged and lined with many areoles bearing spines. The spines are red, yellow, white, purplish, or bicolored, sometimes with darker tips. Flowers are up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) long and have tepals in shades of yellow, brown, green, or occasionally red, with darker reddish mid stripes.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 6a to 11b: from −5 °F (−20.6 °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 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, 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 repotting by removing plantlets and potting them up in their 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 the central and south-central United States and northern Mexico.
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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