Echinocereus triglochidiatus aka Rose's Claret Cup Cactus

Echinocereus triglochidiatus is a cactus known as claret cup cactus. It belongs to the cactus family, Cactaceae. Kew lists its native range from Colorado to New Mexico and northwestern Mexico. It grows in desert or dry shrubland habitats. Kew describes its life form as a succulent subshrub. The RHS confirms that it is not native to Britain or Ireland. Its short stems and red blooms give it a clear identity.

The plant can grow as short stems or form broad mounds. Virginia Tech gives a usual height near 0.5 feet [0.15 metres]. Plants may reach 1 foot [0.30 metres] tall. Mounds can span several feet, though the source gives no exact upper width. Individual stems measure about 0.08–0.5 feet [0.025–0.15 metres] across. This makes the plant much wider than tall when it forms mounds. Its green skin is thick and tough, with a leathery surface. Five to eight raised ribs run along each stem. These ribs give the stems their strong vertical lines.

The leaves take the form of spines rather than broad blades. Some plants lack spines altogether, according to Virginia Tech. Where present, the spines reach about 0.125 feet [0.038 metres] long. They grow in rows that follow the raised stem ribs. Each areole carries a group of eight to twelve spines. Fine hairs cover the tip of the stem. The contrast between green skin and clustered spines marks its form. Spine-free plants retain the same ribbed skin described by the source.

Flowers appear from late spring into early summer. Virginia Tech describes blooms that open at night and last two days. Their petals have rounded ends, and their centres are yellow. The petals range from scarlet to orange-red. Each flower measures about 0.17 feet [0.05 metres] across. The fruit is a red berry with spines on its surface. Its shape ranges from oval to cylindrical. Berries measure about 0.08–0.125 feet [0.025–0.038 metres] long. Virginia Tech identifies the fruit as edible. That statement does not establish the safety of other plant parts. The supplied species sources give no firm care or hardiness guidance. They also provide no species-level account of pests, diseases, or toxicity.