Bloomipedia
Strawberry hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus stramineus)
Photo: waldo_jeffers via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Strawberry hedgehog cactus

Echinocereus stramineus

Strawberry hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus stramineus) is a shrub in the Cactaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–July across the U.S.

Native to New Mexico

Strawberry hedgehog cactus is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

2states where USDA records it
1,639NM sightings*
4,103U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: New Mexico

Quick look

Echinocereus stramineus is a species of cactus, with stramineus meaning made of straw. There are various common names such as strawberry cactus, porcupine hedgehog cactus, straw-color hedgehog, and pitaya. The straw-colored spines distinguishes this particular plant from other Echinocereus. The aged spines may turn white in color and are very fragile.

  • It belongs to the Cactaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 2 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to New Mexico. NatureServe
  • iNaturalist has 1,639 research-grade sightings of it in New Mexico, ranking #21 among the 152 flowers on our New Mexico list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month in New Mexico (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (17 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
New Mexico
Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Mexico. 19.21.2.9 NMAC
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records strawberry hedgehog cactus in 2 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

New Mexico, Texas.

New Mexico counties with USDA records: Dona Ana, Eddy, Otero.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 11 counties across 2 states; the most are in Texas (8), New Mexico (3).

Other Echinocereus on Bloomipedia (3): Baker kingcup cactus, Santa rita hedgehog cactus, Relict hedgehog cactus.

More from the Cactaceae family (37 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Saguaro, California barrel cactus, Beavertail pricklypear, Plains pricklypear, Fishhook barrel cactus, Christmas cholla, Silver cholla, Tree cholla.

More New Mexico flowers

Tree cholla (Cylindropuntia imbricata)

Tree cholla

Cylindropuntia imbricata

Native

🌼 Blooms in NM: May–July
Spinystar (Escobaria vivipara)

Spinystar

Escobaria vivipara

Native

🌼 Blooms in NM: May–July
Fishhook barrel cactus (Ferocactus wislizeni)

Fishhook barrel cactus

Ferocactus wislizeni

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in NM

Sources