Echinocereus Species, Calico Cactus, Dagger-Spine Hedgehog, Engelmann's Hedgehog, Strawberry Cactus

Every plant in my desert garden is an experiment. The Oklahoma winter determines the success of a given plant. This one survived one ni...Read Moreght of subzero temperatures and a prolonged period of subfreezing weather. So, it is fairly hardy.

Other common names are 'Indian Strawberry Cactus', 'Munz's Hedgehog', 'Needle-spine Hedgehog', 'Purple-spined Hedgehog' & 'Varied-spine H...Read Moreedgehog'.
There have been 9 recognized varieties having a wide variance of color schemes of the spines. but 'var. nicholii' was reclassified as a separate species. The reamaining 8 varieties are still undergoing scrutiny as to determine taxonomic status.
The varieties are: acicularis, armatus, chrysocentrus, engelmannii, howei, munzii, purpureus & variegatus.

I've seen this growing in the wild on the 'El Camino Del Diablo Trail' (Devils' Highway) that runs between Ajo and Wellton in Arizona through the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge.