More Spring Wildflowers (this time with spines!)

A clump of hedgehog cacti (Pediocactus nigrispinus) blooming in the deserts of central Washington

One of our favorite times of year when living in southern Utah was late spring, when the desert would come alive with a wide variety of vibrantly colored cactus blossoms (which were soon followed by delicious fruits that made superb sauces, beer, and margaritas!) Central Washington is a bit lacking in the cacti-department, but we do actually have a few species that can put on a springtime show if you know where to look. 

The most widespread species is the Columbia Prickly Pear (Opuntia columbiana), however I’ve yet to see any flowers. I am beginning to suspect that this species blooms only in certain years with the proper moisture conditions, though I haven’t been able to confirm this. 

Another species, a variety of hedgehog cactus (Pediocactus nigrispinus), is harder to find, but quite reminiscent of the stout barrel cacti of Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. Once more common in central Washington, Pediocactus nigrispinus has sadly been the target of illegal collecting and poaching, reducing its numbers to the point that it is now a threatened species here in Washington. We’ve run across patches of this cactus on two recent hikes, and the second time we were delighted to find many of the buds in bloom. This little cactus, robust but generally no more than a few inches high, has electric-pink flowers that really stand out, even when surrounded by tons of other spring flowers on the sagebrush steppe.  

A hedgehog cactus (Pediocactus nigrispinus) blooming in the deserts of central Washington

And for good measure, a few other flowers from recent excursions:

Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sp.) flowers in the Yakima River Canyon of central Washington. 

Low-growing lupine (Lupinus sp.) in the Yakima River Canyon of central Washington. 

Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sp.) flowers at Steamboat Rock State Park in central Washington. 

Tips on identifying specific balsamroot or lupine species are welcome! There seem to be dozens of different varieties out here, but I sure as heck can’t tell them apart…