Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus

Always a nice patch of subtly colored stems and spines (with brilliantly colored flowers in spring and early summer), Engelmann’s hedgehog cactus grows close to the ground, usually in clumps of up to two or three dozen low branches. The flowers are a lovely shade of red. Another common name for E. engelmannii is calico cactus because of the spine colors, helpful in identifying this plant.

The stems of hedgehog cactus are noticeably narrower than the stems of California barrel cactus and the Mohave mound, both of which have red spines and yellow flowers.

There is a large population of E. engelmannii on the hillside east of the San Felipe monument overlooking Highway S-2 half a mile north of Scissors Crossing. Much of the time, you will find this species scattered in fields of other cacti and plants liking dry ground. If you hike regularly to a certain spot, you may become familiar with the E. engelmannii that grow there. Each time you return, they are there to greet you.