Echinopsis ancistrophora
barbed sea urchin cactus
A spherical ribbed cactus, up to 8cm across, with an evergreen stem with up to twenty ribs along which are star-shaped clusters of up to ten recurved spines, and flowering stems, held above the main stem, with white or pink-tinged white flowers, 10-16cm across, in spring or early summer
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0–0.1 metreGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | White | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | White | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H2Botanical details
- Family
- Cactaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Echinopsis can have spherical or cylindrical, heavily ribbed and spiny stems, with funnel-shaped flowers in spring or summer
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Bolivia, NW Argentina
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in a cool frost-free greenhouse (minimum temperature 2-7ºC) in very free-draining compost, such as John Innes No. 2 with at least an equal amount of grit or fine gravel, in bright, filtered light, and water moderately while growing, but keep dry from mid-autumn until early spring; for more advice, see houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by division from offsets
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Patio and container plants
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to mealybugs
Diseases
Generally disease-free
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