Echinocereus dasyacanthus (Texas Rainbow Cactus) is a smaller cactus that is often kept as an indoor plant. It is native to Mexico, Arizona and of course Texas. The name comes from the occasional faint rainbow like bands that appear on the stem and its beautiful yellow flowers a large in comparison to its smallish size.
The Echinocereus dasyacanthus has one main stem that remains branch-less, however it will grow more stems from its base, like many other cacti. The stems are thickly covered in white-creamy coloured spines, so much so that they make the stem barely visible.
This species is suitable as an indoor or potted plant.
Growth
The Texas Rainbow Cactus stems don’t generally get any taller than 30 cm’s and will eventually grow 2-3 other stems from the base. They are native to hot, dry conditions, however their native lands also get below 0°C making it suitable for growing in temperate climates. Even though this is the case; Echinocereus dasyacanthus can still suffer from some frost damage.
If growing in cooler climates, keep in mind that cacti don’t need water while they are dormant during winter, and can rot if the soil is too moist. The trickiest part if growing them outdoors is keeping the soil fairly dry during cold wet periods. It is best to keep them in containers until they are a couple of years old and well established before planting them outdoors. Raised beds or rockeries where the soil can drain easily are beneficial. Of course you can keep them indoors or in pots outdoors, so that you can move them to a protected area in winter.
Texas Rainbow Cactus flowers are large, getting up to 10 cm’s in diameter and have varying shades of yellow that seem dependent on the growing conditions, the centre (throat) of the flower is green. Flowering in Spring to early Summer, it really is a lovely little cactus.
FAMILY:
Cactaceae
CLIMATE:
Temperate, Mediterranean, Sub-Tropical, Tropical
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
-5 to 40°C / 23 to 104°F
SOIL TYPE:
Soil MUST be well draining.
LOCATION:
Full Sun
HEIGHT:
Up to 30 cm’s (1 foot)
WIDTH:
Up to 7 cm’s (3 inch)
pH:
5.5-7.0
GROWTH TYPE:
Evergreen
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Light
POLLINATION:
Bees. Bisexual
MATURITY:
2-4 years
GERMINATION RATES:
84%
GERMINATION TIME:
3-6 weeks
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 1500-2000
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
No
WEED POTENTIAL:
No
FACTS ABOUT ECHINOCEREUS DASYACANTHUS (Texas Rainbow Cactus)
The Texas Rainbow Cactus are commonly called a Hedgehog Cactus, along with a group of around 60 other species. They get this name because of their small, prickly size that apparently some believe resembles a hedgehog.
The fruit is edible and acidic/sour. The Echinocereus dasyacanthus also known as Yellow Flowered Pitaya, Golden Rainbow Hedgehog and Spiny Hedgehog Cactus.
