Cacti and Succulents: Escobaria orcuttii

description for "Cacti and Succulents: Escobaria orcuttii"

Clustering as it ages, Orcutt's pincushion cactus has glistening white spined stems that ring themselves with light yellowish, salmon-pink flowers with darker midribs in April and May. Elongate fruits appear afterward, starting green and ripening red. Although it's spines look fierce, they are rather fragile and often break to the touch. It thrives in baking heat but has remarkable cold tolerance. Quick draining soil is a must. Because this xeric plant needs longer periods of warm weather to establish its roots properly, it is not recommended for fall planting in Zones 3-6. -- edited by dtd pbcouchman

History:

Escobaria orcuttii is rare in the wild, and is only found in a limited natural habitat from the Chihuahua region of Mexico to Hidalgo and Luna counties of New Mexico.