Echinocereus engelmannii
Calico cactus
Family: Cactaceae · Type: perennial · Native
Calico cactus is a California native perennial found in the Sonoran Borders, Peninsular Ranges, White and Inyo Mountains, and desert regions in dry habitats at elevations below 2,400 meters. Flowering from May to June, this cactus produces vibrant flowers in short-funnel to bell-shaped forms. Growing in clump-forming or loose, open mounds up to 70 centimeters in diameter, the stems are cylindrical with 10 to 13 distinct ribs and reach 5 to 45 centimeters tall. Its spines are highly variable, with 15 to 20 spines per areole, including 2 to 7 central spines that can be straight or twisted. These distinctive cacti form low, spreading clusters in arid landscapes with dramatic, colorful spinal arrangements.
Habitat: dry habitats
Bloom period: May-Jun
Elevation: < 2400 m
Bioregions: SnBr, PR, W&I, D
California counties: San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside, Inyo, Imperial, Los Angeles
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.