All the information and photos in cactus art file are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.

Echinocereus rigidissimus rubrispinus (LAU 088 Sierra Oscura, W. Chihuahua, MX)
This is a "must have" plant for any collection, its attractiveness is in the unique
pink and violet colour and density of its spines.

 

Desription: The subspecies 'rubispinus' is a small columnar cactus with very short pink spines. When mature it will form a clump about two 60cm wide by 25cm tall.
Stems: Erect, short cylindrical, only get about 7cm thick.
Radial spines: 30-35 pectinate per areole and 6-10 mm in length in red and white bands, but more ruby/violet coluoured compared to the 'rigidissimus' subspecies, witch makes it a very attractive cactus. This is a Mexican form and does not turn grey like the Arizona form.
Flowers: Huge up to 10cm wide. Beautiful bright pinkish-red or magenta or red with white throats. Blooms in ring on the crown of the stem in spring. The only downside is the flowers leave an unsightly scar when they drop off.
Fruit: Globose, greenish or dark purplish brownish very spiny, 3 cm in diameter, pulp white. Fruiting 3 months after flowering
 

Plants are often selected for brightest colour.

Photo and © copyright by Mladen Turcinovic (Croatia)
This is the most colorful form of the species.

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Photo & © copyright by Irwin Lightstone

Photo and © copyright by Andrea B. (Bologna, Italy)

 

Photo and © copyright by Andrea B. (Bologna, Italy)
 

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Echinocereus rigidissimus:

• Echinocereus rigidissinus ssp. rigidissumus has stems that reach over 10 cm thick with 15-23 radial spines per areole.
• Echinocereus rigidissimus ssp.  rubispinus (Ruby Rainbow) has stems that only get about 7 cm thick with 30-35 shorter radial spines per areole. The spines are also more Ruby/pinkish coluoured compared to the 'rigidissimus' subspecies and are some of the showiest in the cactus kingdom.

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Echinocereus rigidissimus var. rubrispinus (the varietal epithet meaning red-spined)

Scientific name:  Echinocereus rigidissimus (Engelmann) F. Haage
Published in: Special Preisverz. 13. 1897.

Synonyms: Echinocereus pectinatus var. rubrispinus

Origin:  Mexico (northern Sonora, north-western Chihuahua

Habitat: The reported habitat preference for limestone is erroneous; this species is a calcifuge, preferring soils poor in lime and usually acid.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Common Name: Rainbow cactus, Ruby Rainbow.

NOTE: Echinocereus rigidissimus, lacking central spines, belongs to the E. reichenbachii group, unrelated to the superficially similar E. pectinatus group, which has at least microscopically visible stubs of central spines. It sometimes occurs with E. pseudopectinatus but without evidence of hybridization.

It is a handsome plant flowering or not for its beautiful
new spination which is a lacy raspberry red.
 

Cultivation: E. rigidissimus var. rubrispinus is not the easiest cactus to grow, but when grown well it’s very attractive. Rot easily it is sensitive to overwatering (rot prone), so perfect soil drainage is a must. It prefer a neutral to slightly acidic compost with plenty of extra grit.  Best if watered with rain water and given an occasional tonic of sequestrated iron. In the summer they need an airy location in bright sun; well watered when it's hot. To achieve the best spine colours give these plants lots of sun. In the winter light, cool, and absolutely dry conditions. Very cold resistant  above approx -12C or less for short periods of time. In mild climate they grow well when planted freely outside in well-drained soil.
Propagation: Seeds.

All the information and photos in cactus art file are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.