Sea Urchin Cactus Echinopsis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Andenea
- Cosmantha
- Salpingolobivia
- Phonetic Spelling
- ek-in-OP-sis
- Description
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Echinopsis or hedgehog cactus is a genus of cacti that are native to Peru, West Central and Southern Brazil and Northern Argentina. They are typically found along hillsides or in rocky crevices. There are 20 accepted species, and they are members of the cactus family (Cactaceae). The genus name originates from the Greek words, Ekihnos, meaning "sea urchin" and opsis, meaning "appearance." This is reflective of the spiny appearance of these plants. Each species has its own unique shape, size, and color. They may be small, flat, spherical, and form low-growing clumps, or they be tall, large, erect, and tree-like. Some species are often used as ornamental plants in landscapes or as houseplants.
These plants are easy to grow and prefer well-drained, sandy and rocky soils. They enjoy full sun, but in very hot climates will benefit from some afternoon shade. When used as a houseplant, cactus potting mix is suggested to provide adequate soil drainage. The stems are able to retain water; therefore, these plants can survive in dry conditions. They can be propagated from seeds or stem cuttings.
The succulent stems of these plants are usually green to blue-green and have ribs that run lengthwise of the plant. The spines vary depending on the species and may be yellow or white. These plants have large, funnel-shaped, showy flowers on elongated pedicels that bloom in the late evening during the spring or summer and usually only last for one day. They may have white or pink blooms; however, some species have red or orange blooms. The flowers have many petals and are arranged in a star-like pattern. The fruit appears hairy and globular, but it has a mushy, soft pulp on the interior.
Species of this genus are often found in garden centers and are found in the landscape in the warm climates of the Southwestern United States. They may also used as container plants or houseplants.The species are easily hybridized, and there are many hybrids available whose flowers come in many colors and combinations.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor of mealybugs and scale. Overwatering will cause root rot.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Echinopsis albispinosa (White Spine Cactus)
cylindrical stems, up to 3 ft tall, 1 ft in diameter, vertical ribs, white spines, flowers pink, red, orange, yellow, or white - Echinopsis aurea (Golden Easter Lily Cactus)
dark green globular stems up to 6 inches tall, 1.5 to 4 inches wide, 14 to 15 sharp ribs, yellow flowers - Echinopsis 'Banana Custard'
lemon yellow to apricot and dark magenta flowers - Echinopsis 'Beyond Infinity'
large, pinkish-purple flowers and has central stripe of deep red - Echinopsis 'Coletta'
bi-colored flowers of yellow and salmon and dark pink mid rib - Echinopsis 'Copper Beauty'
flowers are salmon pink with bronze tones - Echinopsis densispina
low-growing, ovoid grayish-green stems, up to 3 inches tall, 2 inches wide, 17 ribs, yellow to orange and red flowers - Echinopsis 'Fancy Pants'
candy pink flowers with a ragged appearance - Echinopsis haematantha
globose to short cylinder-like stems, grayish-green to brownish-green, 2 to 4 inches tall, 2 to 3 inches in diameter, 8-15 ribs - Echinopsis 'Hesperides'
pale salmon-pink flowers - Echinopsis lageniformis (Bolivian Torch Cactus)
small tree-like, fast growing, columnar, 6 to 15 feet tall, pale green to bluish, stems 4-8 ribbed, spines yellowish to brown
Echinopsis oxygona (Easter Lily Cactus)
- Echinopsis 'Peach Monarch'
peachy-pink flowers - Echinopsis tacaquirensis
shrubby, columar, up to 7.5 feet tall, stems up to 6 inches in diameter, dark green, white to pink flowers - Echinopsis werdermannii
15 to 24 ft. tall, thick trunk up to 2 feet, 10 ribs, yellow-brown spines, white blooms
most popular, easy to grow, fast-growing, globular cactus, bloom colors from white to pink, - Echinopsis albispinosa (White Spine Cactus)
- Echinopsis albispinosa (White Spine Cactus), Echinopsis aurea (Golden Easter Lily Cactus), Echinopsis 'Banana Custard', Echinopsis 'Beyond Infinity', Echinopsis 'Coletta', Echinopsis 'Copper Beauty', Echinopsis densispina, Echinopsis 'Fancy Pants', Echinopsis haematantha, Echinopsis 'Hesperides', Echinopsis lageniformis (Bolivian Torch Cactus), Echinopsis oxygona (Easter Lily Cactus), Echinopsis 'Peach Monarch', Echinopsis tacaquirensis, Echinopsis werdermannii
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Echinopsis albispinosa (White Spine Cactus)
cylindrical stems, up to 3 ft tall, 1 ft in diameter, vertical ribs, white spines, flowers pink, red, orange, yellow, or white - Echinopsis aurea (Golden Easter Lily Cactus)
dark green globular stems up to 6 inches tall, 1.5 to 4 inches wide, 14 to 15 sharp ribs, yellow flowers - Echinopsis 'Banana Custard'
lemon yellow to apricot and dark magenta flowers - Echinopsis 'Beyond Infinity'
large, pinkish-purple flowers and has central stripe of deep red - Echinopsis 'Coletta'
bi-colored flowers of yellow and salmon and dark pink mid rib - Echinopsis 'Copper Beauty'
flowers are salmon pink with bronze tones - Echinopsis densispina
low-growing, ovoid grayish-green stems, up to 3 inches tall, 2 inches wide, 17 ribs, yellow to orange and red flowers - Echinopsis 'Fancy Pants'
candy pink flowers with a ragged appearance - Echinopsis haematantha
globose to short cylinder-like stems, grayish-green to brownish-green, 2 to 4 inches tall, 2 to 3 inches in diameter, 8-15 ribs - Echinopsis 'Hesperides'
pale salmon-pink flowers - Echinopsis lageniformis (Bolivian Torch Cactus)
small tree-like, fast growing, columnar, 6 to 15 feet tall, pale green to bluish, stems 4-8 ribbed, spines yellowish to brown
Echinopsis oxygona (Easter Lily Cactus)
- Echinopsis 'Peach Monarch'
peachy-pink flowers - Echinopsis tacaquirensis
shrubby, columar, up to 7.5 feet tall, stems up to 6 inches in diameter, dark green, white to pink flowers - Echinopsis werdermannii
15 to 24 ft. tall, thick trunk up to 2 feet, 10 ribs, yellow-brown spines, white blooms
most popular, easy to grow, fast-growing, globular cactus, bloom colors from white to pink, - Echinopsis albispinosa (White Spine Cactus)
- Echinopsis albispinosa (White Spine Cactus), Echinopsis aurea (Golden Easter Lily Cactus), Echinopsis 'Banana Custard', Echinopsis 'Beyond Infinity', Echinopsis 'Coletta', Echinopsis 'Copper Beauty', Echinopsis densispina, Echinopsis 'Fancy Pants', Echinopsis haematantha, Echinopsis 'Hesperides', Echinopsis lageniformis (Bolivian Torch Cactus), Echinopsis oxygona (Easter Lily Cactus), Echinopsis 'Peach Monarch', Echinopsis tacaquirensis, Echinopsis werdermannii
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Echinopsis
- Family:
- Cactaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Peru to West Central & Southern Brazil and North Argentina
- Distribution:
- Native: Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Bolivia, Brazil South, Brazil West-Central, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. Introduced: Canary Islands, Galapagos, KwaZulu-Natal, Spain, and Tunisia
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers attract moths and butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Easy to Grow
- Textural
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 24 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 2 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Succulent
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Columnar
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is round and hairy on the exterior. The interior has mushy pulp and contains many seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are large, showy, night-blooming, and funnel-shaped. They have many petals that are arranged in a star-like pattern, and the bloom appears on an elongated pedicel. Typically the blooms are white or pink; however some species have red or orange blooms. Flowers bloom in the spring or summer.
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Leaves:
- Hairs Present:
- No
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems are green to bluish-green depending on the species. Some species are small, flat, globular, and grow in low-growing clumps. Other species may tall, erect, and tree-like. The stems are ribbed lengthwise, and the spines may be yellow or white.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Insect Pests
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
