Echinocactus texensis
Family: Cactaceae
Description: Stem hemispheric, 2-8 cm high, 0-20 cm wide, usually simple. Flowers 4-5.5 m long, nearly as wide. Petals pink to light purple or red. Fruits red. Characteristic spines grow in clusters of 7-8, with a longer central spine. The outer petals are salmon-red, the inner ones salmon-pink with streaks of red. The edge of the petals has a feathery appearance. Flowers open in the morning and close in the evening. Produces large red berries summer to fall.
Field Identification: This flat, low-growing shape circular cactus bears strong downcurved spines. It grows low to the ground, often appearing partially sunken, with a hemispherical or flattened barrel shape. Its spines are long and prominent, ranging in color from grayish to reddish-brown, and it typically reaches 12–20 cm (5–8 inches) in height and up to 30 cm (12 inches) in diameter.
Plant Trivia: Spines can cause hoof damage to livestock.
Occurrence: Frequent in prairies and openings on sandy loams or hardpans. Native to the southern United States, particularly Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, as well as northern Mexico, including the Chihuahuan Desert.
Bloom Period: Mar-Apr
Plant Use: Popular in xeriscape and desert gardens due to its small size, colorful flowers, and drought tolerance. Deer and rabbit resistant due to its spines. Native habitat: desert flats, grassland, scrubland.
