Pinkflower Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus bonkerae
This hedgehog typically grows in loose groups of 5 to 15 green, cylindrical to elongated shoots to around 8” long. In spring magenta to reddish-purple flowers appear followed by globose fruits that are red or orange red, with fleshy pulp that is white or pale pink.
Grow this plant in full sun. Good drainage is essential. Water once or twice a month in summer in the ground, and about once a week in summer in containers. Keep plants dry in winter. Hardy to about 15°F.
The flowers are pollinated by bees, and other pollinators. Many animals may take advantage of the edible fruit.
The fruits and flowers are edible.
Photo by Zachary Nielsen, iNaturalist
Echinocereus bonkerae on SEINET
The genus name Echinocereus comes from the Greek word echinos, meaning "hedgehog" or "sea urchin", and the Latin word cereus, meaning "large wax candle". The name refers to the plant's spiny covering. The species, bonkerae, is named for Frances Bonker—John James Thornber and Frances Bonker first described the cactus in 1932. There are 89 species of Echinocereus native to the southern United States and Mexico in very sunny, rocky places.
Native to Arizona and adjacent Sonora at 3,000-6,000’ mostly in dry grasslands and in chaparral shrublands in in sandy-loamy soil and rocky slopes.
Newly developed fruit, photo by rpmundo, iNaturalist
A colony of plants in the Superstition wilderness. Photo by Curren Frasch, iNaturalist