Rainbow Cactus - Echinocereus rubrispinus

The Rainbow Cactus—most famously represented by the Echinocereus rigidissimus (including the highly popular ruby-spined subspecies rubrispinus)—is a small, slow-growing, solitary columnar succulent renowned for its beautifully banded appearance. Native to the rocky plains of the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico, it earns its common name from its densely packed, comb-like spines that lie flat against its ribbed stem. As the cactus goes through seasonal growth cycles, these interlocking spines change color, generating alternating concentric rings of bright ruby pink, rose red, creamy yellow, and pale white up the column.