Native Plants
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Pediocactus bradyi
Pediocactus bradyi L.D. Benson
Brady's Hedgehog Cactus, Brady's Pincushion Cactus
Cactaceae (Cactus Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: PEBR2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
The tiny stems of Brady's pincushion cactus are at most 2 inches across, and may be single or (less often) form clusters of up to 12. Stems are spherical in shape but flattened and shrunken at some times of year, when they barely rise above the surrounding soil and are hard to spot even when close up. The very short, white or yellowish spines are (usually) all radial, numbering between 13 and 16, and angled back towards the stem surface; occasionally 1 or 2 darker-colored central spines might be present. The pale yellow flowers and green/brown fruit are also small, about one inch and half an inch in diameter respectively.
The plant grows in a 25 mile long strip of land either side of the Colorado River (Marble Canyon) in north Arizona, south of Lees Ferry. It is endangered, and monitoring studies suggest that populations are declining.
Description provided courtesy of The American Southwest.
From the Image Gallery
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Cactus/Succulent
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Globular plants 1 to 2 1/2 inches tall by 1 to 2 inches wide.
Fruit: Small green/brown fruit.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Yellow , Green , BrownBloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr
Bloom Notes: Diurnal. White or pale yellow, with a yellow interior and green or reddish brown midstripes.
Distribution
USA: AZ , CONative Distribution: Marble Canyon, north Arizona, in particular around Jackass Creek and Badger Canyon.
Native Habitat: Kaibab limestone ledges or plateaus.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Conditions Comments: Minimum temperature 50F.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Threatened & Endangered Status
USFWS Species Profile: Q1ZXStatus:Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Webref 15 - The American Southwest (1994) John Crossley
Additional resources
USDA: Find Pediocactus bradyi in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Pediocactus bradyi in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pediocactus bradyi
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-02-21Research By: TWC Staff