Echinocereus coccineus ssp. coccineus
(Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus)
Echinocereus coccineus ssp. coccineus, Mosca Pass Trail, Great Sand Dunes NP, Alamosa Co. 9083
Echinocereus coccineus ssp. coccineus, Mosca Pass Trail, Great Sand Dunes NP, Alamosa Co. 9087
Echinocereus coccineus ssp. coccineus, Mosca Pass Trail, Great Sand Dunes NP, Alamosa Co. 8901
Echinocereus coccineus ssp. coccineus, Mosca Pass Trail, Great Sand Dunes NP, Alamosa Co. 8897
Echinocereus coccineus ssp. coccineus, Mosca Pass Trail, Great Sand Dunes NP, Alamosa Co. 8931
| Scientific Name | Echinocereus coccineus ssp. coccineus (E. c. var. coccineus) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | ECCOC |
| Common Name | Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 912679 |
| Family | Cactaceae (Cactus) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Life zones and habitat: Plains and foothills (5000 to 7000 ft.); dry, gravelly, sandy soils in open areas, canyons and hillsides. Plant: Single erect stems growing between boulders and in rock cracks, or in mounds up to 40 inches across with 5 to 100 densely spiny, cylindrical stems. Stems & Spines: Stems 2 to 8 inches tall and up to 3 inches in diameter with 6 to 14 ribs; relatively closely-spaced (3/8 to 3/4-inch) areoles with 0 or 1 central spine per areole, 1 to 3 inches long and 4 to 13 radial, spreading spines 3/16 to 1-1/2 inches long; spines are usually round in cross-section and mostly straight, white to yellow, reddish-brown or black, often dark tipped. Inflorescence: Cup-shaped flowers arising from the sides of the stems, 1 to 2-1/2 inches across with red, crimson, or scarlet (rarely orange-red or rose-pink) tepals with bases sometimes being whitish or yellowish; central style with greenish stigma lobes; pink to purple anthers clustered at base of style; plants are dioecious with male and female flowers on different plants. Bloom Period: May and June. Fruit: On female plants cross-pollinated by male plants; egg-shaped fruit, 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches long, greenish or yellowish to pinkish becoming red, with white pulp; with clusters of tiny spines until ripe. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, Flora of North America, Southwest Desert Flora and Wildflowers of New Mexico. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
© Tom Lebsack 2025
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