Hedgehog is a general name given to a group of cacti that grow in clusters of short cylandrical stems.

Because many of the species grow to a foot or less, and produce brillant color flowers, they are very popular plants for native gardens.

The top picture shows the Golden Hedgehog (Echinocereus nicholii). It produces pink flowers and it is a native plant of Arizona.

There are around thirty different species of hedgehog cactus in the genus Echinocereus, that are native to western states.

© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels.