Echinocereus pectinatus
| Light | Bright light with several hours of direct sun; a little shade from the fiercest afternoon sun in hot climates |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly; allow the mix to dry fully between waterings, and keep dry through a cool winter rest |
| Soil | Gritty, fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing in wet conditions; tolerates cold if bone dry — roughly USDA zones 8b–11 |
| Propagation | Seed (primary); occasional offsets on clustering plants |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Echinocereus pectinatus is a Mexican hedgehog cactus prized for its neatly pectinate (comb-like) spines and its large, showy pink to magenta flowers. The spines are arranged in tidy rows that press flat against the ribbed, cylindrical body — a look that gives the plant its common name, comb hedgehog — and its handsome banding of coloured spines makes it a close ally of the well-loved rainbow cactus.
Description
Echinocereus pectinatus is usually solitary or forms small clusters, growing as an upright to shortly columnar stem up to around 25–30 cm tall and 5–10 cm across. The body carries numerous low ribs closely lined with areoles. From each areole a comb of short, stiff radial spines lies flat against the stem, interlocking with those above and below so the whole surface looks finely combed. Spine colour varies from white through pink to russet-brown, often laid down in horizontal bands as the plant grows — the trait it shares with the rainbow cactus.
The flowers are the plant's great reward: large funnel-shaped blooms, commonly 6–10 cm across, in glowing shades of pink to magenta, frequently with a paler or greenish throat. They open near the top of the stem in spring and early summer and last several days. Ripe fruits are small, spiny and greenish.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to northern and central Mexico, ranging across the Chihuahuan Desert region and adjacent highlands, with some populations reaching toward the United States border. It grows on rocky limestone slopes, gravelly flats and among low desert scrub, typically in gritty, sharply drained ground and full exposure. Plants endure hot, dry summers and cold winters, riding out the cold by staying completely dry.
The name has historically been applied broadly, so many plants sold under E. pectinatus represent a variable complex; the closely related rainbow cactus was once treated within it.
Cultivation
Echinocereus pectinatus is a fairly obliging plant for a hedgehog cactus, provided its two main needs are met: strong light and sharp drainage. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix and give it as much sun as you can, which keeps the plant compact and encourages the best spine colour and flowering. Water thoroughly when the mix has dried right out during the growing season, then let it dry again; see Watering for general technique.
A genuinely dry, cool winter rest is the key to flowering. Kept dry, the plant is notably cold-tolerant, but the same cold combined with damp soil invites rot, so err on the side of drought from autumn to spring. Repot infrequently into a snug pot (see Repotting).
Propagation
Seed is the usual method and germinates readily on a warm, gritty, humid surface; see Propagation — seed. Clustering plants can also be divided by removing rooted offsets, which are potted up once the cut faces have callused — see Propagation — offsets. Solitary individuals rarely offer offsets, so seed remains the mainstay for building up numbers.
Common problems
- Rot — the commonest killer, almost always from wet soil in cool weather or a mix that drains too slowly; the stem softens and discolours from the base.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the stem grow pale, soft and elongated, spoiling the tight combed spination.
- Pests — red spider mites (fine webbing and a bronzed, dulled skin) and mealybugs (white fluff tucked among the spines and at the roots) are the usual offenders. See Pests and diseases.
- Shy flowering — usually traced to too little sun or the lack of a proper dry, cool winter rest.
See also
- Echinocereus — the genus overview
- Echinocereus rigidissimus — the closely allied rainbow cactus
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets · Pests and diseases