Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Echinocereus triglochidiatus is a species of hedgehog cactus known by several common names, including kingcup cactus, claretcup, and Mojave mound cactus. This cactus is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it is a resident of varied habitats from low desert to rocky slopes, scrub, and mountain woodland. It is most abundant in shady areas. There are a number of varieties of this highly variable cactus species, but not all are universally recognized. In general it is a mounding cactus, forming bulbous piles of few to hundreds of spherical to cylindrical stems. It is densely spiny and somewhat woolly. The showy flower is a funnel shaped bloom up to 8 or 9 centimeters wide and bright scarlet red to orange-red petals. There is a thick nectar chamber and many thready pink stamens at the center of the corolla. The flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds.

Plant type

Shrub, Succulent

Size

1 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Red, Orange, Pink

Flowering season

Spring

Special uses

Containers, Deer resistant

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade, Deep Shade

Water

Extremely Low, Very Low

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Prefers rocky, sandy or decomposed granite soil.

Sunset Zones

2, 3, 10, 11, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

Site type

low desert, rocky slopes, scrub, and mountain woodland

Plant communities

Creosote Bush Scrub, Joshua Tree Woodland, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 2 likely

Confirmed Likely

Dyotopasta yumaella

Yosemitia Graciella

Yosemitia graciella