Echinocereus engelmannii
| Light | Full sun to bright light; happiest with strong direct sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly; let the soil dry fully between waterings, dry rest in winter |
| Soil | Gritty, fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Cold-hardy when dry; tolerates hard frost, roughly USDA zones 8–10 |
| Propagation | Seed; division of offsets from established clumps |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Echinocereus engelmannii is a clustering hedgehog cactus native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, prized by growers for its large, satiny magenta flowers. Forming low mounds of stout cylindrical stems clothed in variable, often colourful spines, it is one of the most widespread and rewarding members of the genus Echinocereus and is commonly known as Engelmann's hedgehog or strawberry hedgehog.
Description
Echinocereus engelmannii builds up clumps of erect to sprawling stems, from a handful up to many dozens in an old plant. Individual stems are cylindrical, typically 15–30 cm tall and a few centimetres thick, ribbed lengthwise and densely armed. The spination is famously variable: central spines may be straight or slightly twisted and range from white and grey through yellow, pink, brown and near-black, so that plants from different populations can look strikingly different from one another.
Flowers appear in spring, opening in the daytime over several days. They are large and showy — funnel-shaped, glossy magenta to purple-pink, often several centimetres across — and are followed by rounded, spiny fruits that ripen red and are edible, giving the plant its "strawberry" common name.
Distribution and habitat
The species is widespread across the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, from southern California and Nevada through Arizona, Utah and New Mexico, and south into the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California. It grows on rocky slopes, desert flats, gravelly washes and among creosote and sagebrush, usually in very well-drained ground and full exposure.
Across this wide range it varies enough that botanists recognise several named varieties differing mainly in spine colour, length and density. Its abundance makes it one of the more familiar hedgehog cacti in habitat.
Cultivation
Echinocereus engelmannii is a good-tempered grower for anyone who can give it sun and sharp drainage. Plant it in a gritty, mostly mineral mix and site it in the brightest position available; ample light keeps the stems compact and brings out the best spine colour. Water thoroughly during the warm growing season once the soil has dried out, then let it dry again.
Through winter keep the plant cool and completely dry. Kept dry it is notably cold-hardy — tolerating hard frost that would kill many desert cacti — which makes it a candidate for unheated greenhouses and, in suitable climates, the open garden. A dry winter rest also encourages the heavy spring flowering the species is grown for. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Seed is the most reliable route and produces plenty of variation to select from; sow on a warm, gritty surface kept lightly humid until germination, as described in Propagation — seed. Because the species clumps freely, established plants can also be increased by division: separate rooted stems from the clump, let the cut surfaces callus, and pot them up as offsets. See also Propagation — cuttings for handling detached stems.
Common problems
- Rot — the usual cause of loss, from overwatering or a slow-draining mix, especially if the plant is watered while cold. Stems soften and discolour from the base.
- Etiolation — too little light makes stems thin, pale and stretched, with weaker spination.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff among the spines and at the roots) and red spider mites are the most common; watch clumps where air movement is poor.
See also
- Echinocereus — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting
- Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets · Pests and diseases