Pediocactus simpsonii is the commonest and widest ranging of the Pediocacti, with a range of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico (Cacti of Texas and Neighboring States, Del Weniger, University of Austin Press, Austin, TX, 1991). Pediocactus simpsonii, with it's early flowers (mid-April or mid-May), is the backbone of the non-Opuntia hardy cactus garden. They are reputed to be hardy to -30F or even -40F, depending on whom you ask.

I purchased the mother of this plant in 1994 or 1995 from Intermountain Cactus, 1478 N. 750 East, Kaysville, UT 84037, (801) 546-2006. They have a good selection of outdoor cacti and succulents, and ship good-sized healthy plants. Unfortunately, the mother plant rotted out one summer when I failed to protect the plant from excessive rains. Fortunately, I was able to grow one seedling from the fruits which were on the plant when I purchased it.

UPDATE March 25, 2001. This plant should have plumped up and shown me some flower buds by now, but it still is shriveled for winter. I pulled the plant out of the ground, and the roots look okay, but the plant top is questionable. I may be able to salvage some seedlings.

UPDATE Summer 2001. I have lost this plant completely, and all of its seedlings have died too. This is a hard lesson on the importance of keeping your plants dry, even in the warmest summer months. It appears that the wet summer of 2000 weakened several plants, so they would not grow this spring.

Click here or on the picture above to read how I grow this plant. The one difference here, is that the seeds of Pediocactus should be planted in the fall or early winter, so they can get wet, then dry, then wet, etc. throughout the winter, so that they know when to sprout in the springtime.