Native Plants

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Trout, Keeper

Echinocereus viridiflorus

Echinocereus viridiflorus Engelm.

Nylon Hedgehog Cactus, Green Pitaya

Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: ECVI2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A small cactus with 1 cylindrical stem or several in a clump and yellowish-green or magenta flowers.

Pitaya (pronounced pee-tah-yah) is the phonetic spelling of the original Spanish name Pitahaya, a name given to species of Echinocereus but more broadly applied to a number of cacti that produce sweet, edible fruit.

From the Image Gallery

22 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Globular stems to 3 inches long, 3/4-2 inches thick, and 13-15 ribs.
Flower: Flowers up to 1 inch long and across.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Bloom Notes: Diurnal flowering.

Distribution

USA: CO , KS , NE , NM , OK , SD , TX , WY
Native Distribution: Southeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota south to eastern New Mexico and western Texas.
Native Habitat: Dry plains and hills.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Drought Tolerance: High
Conditions Comments: Minimum temperature 50 F.

Bibliography

Bibref 1140 - Cacti (1991) Clive Innes and Charles Glass

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Additional resources

USDA: Find Echinocereus viridiflorus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Echinocereus viridiflorus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Echinocereus viridiflorus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2021-01-26
Research By: TWC Staff

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