Echinocereus triglochidiatus

Cold-hardy claret cup cactus, Echinocereus triglochidiatusaka kingcup or scarlet hedgehog cactus, is the state cactus of Colorado.

Well adapted to the harsh climates of the southwest this species is suited to cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 10.

Mature dimensions are 12 to 24 inches tall and wide, consisting of mounding cylindrical stems covered in long, sharp, angled spines.

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The scarlet blossoms are a spring-to-summer celebration, punctuating the sandy stretches and rocky outcroppings of the American Southwest and adjoining Mexico.

Unlike many cactus blooms that close at night, the flowers of the claret cup remain open, providing nectar to hummingbirds that arrive at dawn and dusk.

After blooming, the plants produce reddish fruits that provide food for desert birds and wildlife.

This guide discusses everything you need to know to grow E. triglochidiatus outdoors or as a houseplant. Here’s what we’ll cover:

The genus Echinocereus includes about 70 flowering species commonly called hedgehog cacti, named for their resemblance to the spiny little mammals.

There are two subspecies of E. triglochidiatus. The nominate form, E. triglochidiatus ssp. triglochidiatusgrows in the eastern portion of its range and has larger, flat-sided spines but fewer of them.

By contrast, E. triglochidiatus ssp. mojavensisfound farther west, bears a mix of curly and straight spines.

Other hedgehog cacti are sometimes confused with claret cup. E. cooks has twice the usual number of chromosomes, producing larger flowers and taller stems in dense clumps.

Its blossoms are orange-hued rather than true scarlet, and the spines are rounder. Naturally occurring variants such as E. cooks our. paucispinus And was. arizonicus are also found in the wild.

Another relative, E. polyacanthushas more numerous spines that are less angled, with uniformly cylindrical stems and deeper red flowers.

In addition to red and orange-red claret cup varieties, there are hedgehog cacti with yellow and magenta cup-like blossoms.

One of the interesting features of claret cup is its growth habit. Plants expand slowly over time into dense, mounded colonies that may contain dozens of stems.

In the wild, these can spread several feet across, creating striking patches of color when they burst into bloom all at once.

This clumping habit also helps buffer individual stems from temperature swings and intense desert sun.

The flowers themselves are perfectly adapted to their pollinators.

Their funnel shape accommodates the long bills of hummingbirds, their main pollinator, while also allowing bees and other insects to reach the pollen.