Echinocereus enneacanthus aka Banana Cactus

Echinocereus enneacanthus is a cactus in the family Cactaceae. Its common names include strawberry cactus and pitaya hedgehog cactus. Kew places its native range in southwest and south Texas. That range also reaches into northeast Mexico. It grows in deserts and dry shrubland. Kew classes it as a succulent subshrub. Plants For A Future describes low clumps that spread with age. The supplied species evidence gives no firm garden height or width.

The plant has value in gardens that use little water. Its clumps offer shelter for wildlife in harsh sites. Its blooms add colour and support visiting pollinators. Plants For A Future places flowering in late spring. The fruit crop follows in early to mid-summer. Local growing conditions can shift the timing of the crop. Insects and small animals eat fruit that remains intact. These uses link the plant's garden value with its food value.

Grow this cactus in full sun with very good drainage. Plants For A Future reports that it tolerates heat. It lists USDA hardiness zones 8 through 10. Mineral soils and raised planting help meet its drainage needs. Established plants need little summer watering, according to that source. Keep winter rain from leaving the soil wet. Good drainage matters in every season, not just during winter. Poor drainage can lead to rot and harm the plant.

The fruit is edible and can have a sweet taste. Plants For A Future gives edibility four out of five. It rates fruit quality well, but harvests can be uncertain. Ants may hollow out fruits before people gather them. This damage can make a crop seem smaller than expected. Inspect each fruit before preparing it for food. Remove the spines, open the fruit, and eat the flesh. Reject fruit with fungal rot or heavy insect damage. Do not gather fruit from protected wild populations.

Spines pose a physical hazard when handling plants or fruit. The supplied evidence does not establish a broader toxicity rating. Plants For A Future also reports traditional medicinal use. It mentions uses linked to digestion and inflammation. These reports do not establish that the plant treats disease. The source gives medicinal use two out of five. It also rates other uses two out of five. It records no weed potential for this species.