^{(Photograph =  Echinocereus coccineus)}

Introduction

Echinocereus is a genus of generally small, North American, ribbed cacti. There are about 70 species according to some estimates, but there may be more or fewer. The genus is common in the American Southwest and the plants are often grown as hobby plants due to their ease of culture and beautiful flowers. See the Flora of North America description.

The Details

E. coccineus is a low-growing cactus species known as the claret cup or scarlet hedgehog cactus. The first name derives from the reddish flowers. The second name, scarlet hedgehog cactus, derives from the echinus, a Greek word meaning spiny or hedgehog. Spines may be white, yellow, reddish, or even nearly black. Plants may have just a few branches or over 100 in old specimens. The large flowers are scarlet-red, orange-red, or even rarely rose-pink and are prominently displayed.

The plants are widespread because they grow in various soils and situations: grasslands, pinon-pine woodlands, rocky slopes, on volcanic or limestone-derived soils, and even mountain forests. Plants from higher elevations (over 4,000 to 5,000 ft) are unusually cold hardy. Plants may be densely spined (classical) or sparsely spined (West Texas).

Various other species (e.g., E. rosei) are similar to E. coccineus or even considered varieties by some botanists. Depending upon how species and varieties are defined, E. coccineus may range from central Texas to California.

Additional Reading: Echinocereus coccineus var rosei

(images from Wikepedia)