General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9a -6.7 °C (20 °F) to -3.9 °C (25 °F)
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Pink
Red
Other: Magenta
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Resistances: Drought tolerant
Containers: Suitable in 1 gallon
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth
Awards and Recognitions: RHS AGM
Conservation status: Least Concern (LC)

Conservation status:
Conservation status: Least Concern
Image
Common names
  • Arizona Rainbow Hedgehog
  • Sonoran Rainbow Cactus
  • Cabeza de Viejo
  • Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus
  • Alicoche

Photo Gallery

photo by:  S6ann33n
Location: Sun Lakes, AZ
Date: 2023-05-25
Here in Phoenix they flower beautifully
Location: Canoga Park, California
Date: 2012-06-20
Location: Sun Lakes, AZ
Date: 2023-05-25
The plant is as beautiful as the flower

Date: 2018-07-21
Location: Western Washington
Date: 2018-11-03

Date: 2019-11-23

Date: 2009-06-21
Location: Canoga Park, California
Date: 2015-03-27
Plant with two young flower buds

Date: 2010-06-03

Date: 2014-04-30
Location: Canoga Park, California
Date: 2011-06-15
Comments:
  • Posted by Baja_Costero (Baja California - Zone 11b) on Sep 23, 2019 2:07 PM concerning plant:
    Cylindrical cactus with pectinate, sometimes bright red spines and bright pink or magenta flowers. From the southwestern US and northwestern Mexico. Stems are solitary, with 15-26 ribs, no central spine, and 15-35 radial spines. The radial spines tend to dominate the appearance of the plant and look beautiful in close up detail. They may be red, pink, whitish, yellowish, or brownish. Flowers are large and pink/red/magenta with white throats. This plant enjoys strong light and excellent drainage. Do not overwater.

    The two subspecies are Alicoche (Echinocereus rigidissimus subsp. rigidissimus) (wider stems, 15-23 radial spines, from AZ/NM/SON) and Arizona Ruby Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus rigidissimus subsp. rubispinus) (narrower stems, 30-35 radials, from Chihuahua). The latter is prized in cultivation for its more abundant, redder spines, and relatively common for the genus.
Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Mealybugs by skopjecollection Nov 26, 2019 1:29 PM 11

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