California Gardens - The Year Round Gardening Site

Echinocereus coccineus ~ Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus

Echinocereus coccineus attracts hummingbirds and bees with its red flowers. Flowers are often male or female, these are dioetious flowers with lots of pollen and green 8 lobed stigmas poking out. Peak bloom is in the Spring but will vary depending on when the rain comes. The Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus is native to much of the southwest. Echinocereus coccineus spreads by pups from the base as well as by seed. Plants will grow to a foot or so in height. Echinocereus coccinea can form large clumps sometimes exceeding 100 branches. Plants will require full sun and good drainage and rot easily if they don't get it. The native range climbs to elevations above 9000 feet. This is one of the more cold hardy cacti. Echinocereus coccineus is winter hardy into the low 10°s F and likely colder for short durations.

Echinocereus coccineus, Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus

Red flowers of Echinocereus coccineus - Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus. High resolution photos are part of our garden image collection.