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Easter Lily Cactus

Echinopsis oxygona

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1 gallon; 3 gallon

Easter Lily Cactus

Out of stock

1'x2'

Sizes:

Easter Lily Cactus – Echinopsis oxygona
Also known as: Pink Easter Lily Cactus, Hedgehog Cactus, Night-Blooming Cactus

Echinopsis oxygona is a clustering, mat-forming cactus native to South America but widely cultivated in arid gardens throughout the Southwest for its dramatic flowers and low-water use. Each individual stem is rounded to shortly cylindrical, about 3 to 5 inches tall and wide, with 10 to 15 ribs lined with wooly areoles and short, curved spines. Plants grow by producing offsets, gradually forming dense mounds up to 2 feet across.

In spring and summer, E. oxygona produces spectacular, trumpet-shaped blooms that open at night and last up to 48 hours. The flowers are typically pale pink to lavender, with a lighter throat and long tubular base that often equals or exceeds the height of the plant. Some varieties may have white or magenta blooms. The flowers are heavily scented and highly attractive to night-flying moths and other pollinators.

Grow Echinopsis oxygona in full sun to light shade in well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant once established but will flower more reliably with occasional deep watering in the growing season. Avoid excess moisture in winter. While not native to the Colorado or Sonoran Deserts, it adapts well to low desert gardens in containers or rock gardens and is prized for its dramatic, night-blooming floral display.

Wildlife Value
Host Plant: —
Nectar Source: Verified for sphinx moths and other night-flying moths; incidental use by bees in morning hours
Bird Resources: Nectar; Insects; Shelter
Bird Species: Hummingbirds (Trochilidae family)

Plant Care

Native region:

Desert Adapted

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

Full Sun; Filtered Sun

Mature size:

1'x2'

Growth rate:

Moderate

Flower color:

White

Flower season:

Spring-Summer

Pruning:

None

Cold Hardiness:

20 Degrees

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Yes

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Larval host:

Bees:

Yes

Bats:

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Nest materials:

Rabbit-resistant:

Yes

Tortoises:

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.