Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus
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Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus
echinocereus coccineus
The Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus is a bright red cactus that looks like it has little hedgehogs on it! It loves to soak up the sunshine and can survive in very dry places.
Habitat: It lives in dry, desert areas of the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Appearance
The Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus has vibrant scarlet to orange-red flowers that form a striking crown atop its spiny, clumping green stems. Its densely packed spines give it a fuzzy, hedgehog-like appearance, making it distinct from smooth-stemmed cacti.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyCactaceaeGenusEchinocereus
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
It's sometimes called "strawberry hedgehog" because of its delicious red fruit!
Its sweet fruit tastes like strawberries, even though it's a spiky desert plant!
Native peoples used parts of this cactus for both food and traditional medicine.
This tough cactus can live for over 50 years in the wild, enduring harsh deserts!
Special abilities
Ability
Prickly Protector
This cactus has sharp, dense spines that act as a formidable defense, deterring most animals from trying to eat its juicy stems.
Ability
Nectar Beacon
The Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus produces sweet nectar in its bright flowers, attracting important pollinators like bees and hummingbirds.
Ability
Desert Colony
Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus grows in clumps, where multiple stems share resources and provide mutual protection from harsh sun and herbivores.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-30 cm
- Spread
- 15-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 5-8 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring to early summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Drinks nectar and collects pollen from flowers.
pollinates
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Archilochus alexandri
Feeds on nectar from the scarlet flowers.
eats
White-throated Woodrat
Neotoma albigula
Consumes its fruit and uses cactus for shelter.
eats
Sonoran Desert Tortoise
Gopherus morafkai
Graze on its stems and fruit in the desert.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Endangered
Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Also known as
EchinocereusRed Hedgehog CactusStrawberry Cactus
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Be careful around cacti; their spines can be sharp!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus?
10-30 cm
How wide does Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus spread?
15-60 cm
How big are the flowers on Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus?
5-8 cm
When does Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus bloom?
Spring to early summer
Is Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus edible?
Yes
Is Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus toxic?
None
What is Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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