Thursday, December 29, 2011

Thinking ahead to Spring: Texas Rainbow Hedgehog Cacti

If the snow we've been getting is enough, and if we've had enough rain, we may see some lovelies like this come April or May.  This Texas Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus was photographed in Culberson County, just north of Van Horn a few years ago.  The blossoms open at daylight and close in the evening and last about a week. We hope to see some this year!

"Rainbow" in the common name refers to the contrasting colored bands on the stem, each reflecting a year's growth. The cactus grows between 4 1/2" to 9" though some get as tall as 18".

A good place to see a variety of cacti year round is the Cactus Greenhouse at Fort Davis' Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens.

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