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An arid desert environment with a rocky, sandy ground with bright green vines covered in yellow spikes creeping over and around the rocks. A gnarled tree trunk is visible in the far corner.

Creeping Devil

Common Name:
Creeping Devil
Origin:
Mexico, Baja California
Color:
  • White
  • Pink
  • Yellow
Plant Type:
  • Cactus/Succulent
About:

What cactus begins life growing upright and columnar but soon becomes heavy, falls over and roots in? Learn more about Creeping Devil.

Stenocereus eruca

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones.

2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

9b (25 °F to 30 °F)

10a (30 °F to 35 °F)

10b (35 °F to 40 °F)

11a (40 °F to 45 °F)

11b (45 °F to 50 °F)

Endangered Status
  • Extinct in Wild (EW)
  • Critically Endangered (CR)
  • Endangered (EN)
  • Vulnerable (VU)
  • Near Threatened (NT)
  • Least Concern (LC)
  • Not Evaluated (NE)

Groundcover cacti

These plants begin life growing upright and columnar. But soon they become heavy, fall over and root in. They continue to grow from the tip, creeping across the desert ground as the original plant base slowly dies. The spines on this plant are 1-2 inches long and barbed making it the creeping devil. 

Fun Facts:
  • This cactus will form large colonies.
  • Flowers are open at night.
A dry, desert-like landscape with various cacti and rocks. Several long, segmented green cacti snake across the ground, interspersed with large, light-colored boulders and smaller brown and grey rocks. In the background, a large, gnarled tree trunk leans against a massive rock formation.