Hedgehog Cactus, Hedgehog Cereus, or Pitaya
Echinocereus species (CACTACEAE)
Planting and Growing Hedgehog Cactus
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow hedgehog cactus, hedgehog cereus, or pitaya in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and fruit of hedgehog cactus, hedgehog cereus, or pitaya
- Growing conditions for hedgehog cactus, hedgehog cereus, or pitaya
- When and where to plant hedgehog cactus, hedgehog cereus, or pitaya
- How to plant hedgehog cactus, hedgehog cereus, or pitaya
- How to shape, prune and control growth of hedgehog cactus, hedgehog cereus, or pitaya
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of hedgehog cactus, hedgehog cereus, or pitaya
- Landscape uses of hedgehog cactus, hedgehog cereus, or pitaya
- Pest and disease control for hedgehog cactus, hedgehog cereus, or pitaya
Growing Hedgehog Cactus
About 35 species of slow-growing, erect or prostrate, round or columnar, ribbed cacti, 1–3 ft. (30–90 cm) tall, usually armed with white becoming brown, red- or black-tipped bristles or needlelike spines in erect, radiating clusters, 1/2–3-in. (12–75-mm) long, depending on species.
Commonly cultivated species include Echinocereus englemanni and Echinocereus triglochidiatus.
Hedgehog Cactus Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Fruit
Showy, solitary, purple, red, white, yellow, daisylike or tubular, double-petaled flowers, 2–4 in. (50–100 mm) wide, with yellow centers, opening at night, in spring, form fleshy, round, purple red fruit, to 1-3/4-in. (44-mm) wide, in summer.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 4–10. Hardy. Best in arid, cold-winter climates.
Soil Type and Fertility
Damp to dry, well-drained, sandy soil. Fertility: Average. 6.0–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun. Space 2–3 ft. (60–90 cm) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Water deeply spring–autumn; allow soil to dry completely between waterings. Drought tolerant. Fertilize annually in summer. Propagate by layering, offsets, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, barriers, borders, containers in arid, mountain, natural, small-space gardens. Pest resistant. Fungal disease susceptible.
Warning:
Spines can be hazardous; avoid planting in gardens frequented by pets and children.