Echinocereus Rigidissimus Rubrispinus cactus seeds pack of 20 seeds

Echinocereus Rigidissimus Rubrispinus (the varietal epithet meaning red-spined)

Echinocereus Rigidissimus Rubrispinus Scientific name:  Echinocereus rigidissimus (Engelmann) F. Haage

Echinocereus Rigidissimus Rubrispinus

Origin:  Mexico (northern Sonora, north-western Chihuahua

Echinocereus Rigidissimus Rubrispinus Habitat: The reported habitat preference for limestone is erroneous; this species is a calcifuge, preferring soils poor in lime and usually acid.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Common Name: Rainbow cactus, Ruby Rainbow.

Echinocereus Rigidissimus Rubrispinus lacking central spines, belongs to the E. reichenbachii group, unrelated to the superficially similar E. pectinatus group, which has at least microscopically visible stubs of central spines. It sometimes occurs with E. pseudopectinatus but without evidence of hybridization.

Desription: The subspecies ‘rubispinus’ is a small columnar cactus with very short pink spines. When mature it will form a clump about two 60cm wide by 25cm tall.
Stems: Erect, short cylindrical, only get about 7cm thick.
Radial spines: 30-35 pectinate per areole and 6-10 mm in length in red and white bands, but more ruby/violet coluoured compared to the ‘rigidissimus’ subspecies, witch makes it a very attractive cactus. This is a Mexican form and does not turn grey like the Arizona form.
Flowers: Huge up to 10cm wide. Beautiful bright pinkish-red or magenta or red with white throats. Blooms in ring on the crown of the stem in spring. The only downside is the flowers leave an unsightly scar when they drop off.
Fruit: Globose, greenish or dark purplish brownish very spiny, 3 cm in diameter, pulp white. Fruiting 3 months after flowering