Strawberry Cactus
ExplorePlants
Strawberry Cactus
echinocereus enneacanthus
The Strawberry Cactus (Echinocereus enneacanthus) is a low-growing, highly clump-forming succulent native to the arid expanses of the Chihuahuan Desert. Famous for producing large, brilliant magenta flowers that can blanket entire hillsides in late spring, this plant is a striking visual highlight of desert landscapes. It gets its sweet common name from its edible, greenish-red, rounded fruits, which possess a delightful flavor reminiscent of fresh strawberries. This cactus forms massive, sprawling mounds that can survive the intense desert sun and prolonged dry spells, serving as an important source of moisture and food for native desert wildlife. Use the Snappit app to scan, identify, and learn about Strawberry Cactus in real-time.
Habitat: Thrives on arid gravelly slopes, alluvial fans, limestone hills, and shrubby desert flats.
Appearance
This cactus features multiple cylindrical, pale green to yellowish-green stems that grow in dense clumps, with each stem possessing 7 to 10 prominent, slightly wavy ribs. The plant is heavily armed with clusters of sharp, yellowish-brown spines protruding from white circular areoles along the ribs. In late spring, vibrant funnel-shaped, magenta to deep purple flowers erupt near the stem tips, followed by small, egg-shaped fruits that ripen from green to a dull red and lose their outer spines when fully mature.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyCactaceaeGenusEchinocereus
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
A single mature plant can form a massive clump with over 100 individual stems, stretching more than a meter in diameter.
Its scientific name 'enneacanthus' translates to 'nine-spined', which references the typical cluster of spines found on each of its areoles.
The sweet, edible fruits are traditionally gathered to make flavorful local jams and jellies.
Special abilities
Ability
Clumping Growth Form
Produces a sprawling network of over a hundred interconnected stems that helps prevent soil erosion and maximizes moisture capture in dry soils.
Ability
CAM Photosynthesis
Opens its stomata only at night to absorb carbon dioxide, dramatically reducing water loss from evaporation during hot desert days.
Ability
Spiny Sun-Shielding
Features a dense armor of pale spines that shade the stem surface from intense solar radiation and create a micro-barrier against wind.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 10+ cm
- Weight
- 1+ kg
- Lifespan
- 20+ years
Diet & Feeding
As a photosynthetic plant, it generates its own energy from sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and essential minerals from the soil.
Primary Foods
- Sunlight
- Water
- Carbon dioxide
- Soil nutrients
Ecological connections
mutualism
Desert Shrubland Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum coactum
Bees and other native pollinators visit the large magenta flowers to gather nectar, facilitating cross-pollination.
eaten by
Cactus Mouse
Peromyscus eremicus
Desert rodents consume the sweet, ripe strawberry-flavored fruits and aid in the dispersal of seeds across the desert floor.
Traits
No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Strawberry Cactus?
The easiest way to identify Strawberry Cactus is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Strawberry Cactus?
10+ cm
How much does Strawberry Cactus weigh?
1+ kg
How long does Strawberry Cactus live?
20+ years
What does Strawberry Cactus eat?
As a photosynthetic plant, it generates its own energy from sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and essential minerals from the soil.
Where is Strawberry Cactus usually found?
Thrives on arid gravelly slopes, alluvial fans, limestone hills, and shrubby desert flats.
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