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Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn

Echinocereus stramineus

Echinocereus stramineus (Engelm.) F. Seitz

Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus, Pitaya

Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Synonym(s): Echinocereus enneacanthus var. stramineus

USDA Symbol: ECST2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Pitaya has many large spines. It has 11-13 ribs with fairly deep furrows between them. They tend to cluster, sometimes forming large, compact clumps with 100 or more stems. These larger clumps are rounded, often 2-3 feet across and nearly as high. Stems are about 10 inches tall and 3 1/2 inches in diameter. The purple-red flowers are 4-5 inches tall and 3-4 inches across. They are dark red at the base, fading to rose at the tips. The inner petals are toothed. The 10-15 outer petals have pink edges.

From the Image Gallery

26 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Individual stems up to about 10 inches long. Clumps up to about 3 feet tall.
Flower: Deep pink to magenta, 4 inches across when fully open.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul
Bloom Notes: Diurnal.

Distribution

USA: NM , TX
Native Distribution: The Chihuahuan Desert - south New Mexico and the Big Bend area of west Texas.
Native Habitat: Sunny, gravely or rocky (limestone) slopes, up to 5,000 feet elevation.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Conditions Comments: minimum temperature 50 F.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Deer Resistant: High

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-PM-2 Collected 2006-07-29 in Presidio County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 1140 - Cacti (1991) Clive Innes and Charles Glass
Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller

Search More Titles in Bibliography

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-07
Research By: TWC Staff

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