Echinocereus reichenbachii, the Lace Hedgehog Cactus is found across the Chihuahuan Desert in both Mexico and the USA and is one of the hardiest of the Echinocereus, tolerating extreme sub-zero temperatures and some wet weather in winter providing it has a very free-draining substrate. It has a small cylindrical habit with white spines and a stunning fuschia-pink flower with a darker purple-red centre, a green stigma and pale creamy-yellow anthers.

One of the best non-Opuntiad cacti for an outdoor situation, Echinocereus reichenbachii is a tough little thing and very beautiful when in flower. Better to be safe than sorry, there is really no point placing this outside unless you invest time and effort to make a proper free-draining desert area garden with lots of gravel, grit and limestone. A raised bed and a gradient for extra drainage is desirable and probably essential in most areas. A miniature species, it does well grown in the lee of a rock.