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Echinocactus texensis (Chisos hedgehog)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Echinocactus texensis Hopffer

Chisos Hedgehog, Devil’s head, Horse crippler

Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

USDA Symbol: ecte

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

The horse crippler cactus is broader than it is long. Normally it is 1–2 inches above the ground and up to 12 inches across. It is difficult to see, and many horses have been crippled from stepping on it. It usually has only 1 stem, occasionally 2 or 3. If injured at the tip, it may produce a cluster of small heads on top of the old one. The surface of the plant is dark green. It has about 14 spines at each areole, with a central spine that is longer and stronger than the others, 2– 3 inches long and straight to slightly-curved downward. The inverted bell-shaped flowers are 1– 2 3/4 inches across and about as tall. The outer petals are salmon-red, the inner ones salmon-pink with streaks of red. The edge of the petals has a feathery appearance. Anthers are pinkish to red, and the pistil is yellow to pink. The flower is somewhat fragrant.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Size Notes: 4-6 inches.
Flower: Flowers 2-2 1/2 inches long and across.
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Pink
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Bloom Notes: diurnal blooms

Distribution

USA: NM , OK , TX
Native Habitat: Now uncommon from North-central to South and West Texas into Mexico due to eradication by ranchers. In sandy and limestone soils
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Drought Tolerance: High
Conditions Comments: Very low-growing cactus with stout spines that may injure livestock. Lovely in flower.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Attractive, Blooms ornamental, Desert landscape
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Deer Resistant: High

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
NPSOT - Fredericksburg Chapter - Fredericksburg, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-1023 Collected 2011-05-24 in Cameron County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Bibliography

Bibref 1140 - Cacti (1991) Clive Innes and Charles Glass
Bibref 1141 - Cactuses of Big Bend National Park (1998) Evans, Douglas B.
Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-10-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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