Origin and Habitat: Echinocereus huitcholensisSN|15743]]SN|15743]] is known only from the type locality.
Type locality: Sierra de Nayarit (Part of Sierra de los Huitcholes), Jalisco, Mexico.

• Echinocereus polyacanthus subs. huitcholensis (F.A.C.Weber) N.P.Taylor
• Cereus huitcholensis F.A.C.Weber
• Echinocereus acifer subs. huitcholensis (F.A.C.Weber) Mich.Lange
• Echinocereus huitcholensis (F.A.C.Weber) Gürke
• Echinocereus polyacanthus var. huitcholensis (F.A.C.Weber) N.P.Taylor
• Echinocereus triglochidiatus subs. huitcholensis (F.A.C.Weber) U.Guzmán

• Echinocereus polyacanthus Engelm. in Wisliz.
• Echinocereus triglochidiatus subs. polyacanthus (Engelm.) U.Guzmán
• Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. polyacanthus (Engelm.) L.D.Benson
• Echinocereus leeanus (Hook.) Lem.
• Cereus leeanus Hook.
• Echinocereus leanus
• Echinocereus matthesianus Backeb.
• Echinocereus multicostatus (Cels) Cels ex Rümpler
• Cereus multicostatus Cels
• Echinocereus leanus var. multicostatus (Cels) K.Schum.
• Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. multicostatus (Cels) W.T.Marshall
• Echinocereus santaritensis W.Blum & Rutow in W.Blum et al.

• Echinocereus polyacanthus subs. acifer (Otto ex Salm-Dyck) N.P.Taylor
• Cereus acifer Otto ex Salm-Dyck
• Echinocereus acifer (Otto ex Salm-Dyck) F.Haage
• Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. acifer (Salm-Dyck) Bravo
• Echinocereus acifer subs. tubiflorus W.Rischer in W.Blum et al.
• Echinocereus marksianus Fritz Schwarz in Backeb.
• Echinocereus polyacanthus var. densus (Regel) N.P.Taylor
• Echinocereus polyacanthus var. densa ( Regel ) N.P.Taylor (Regel) N.P.Taylor
• Echinopsis valida var. densa Regel

• Echinocereus polyacanthus subs. huitcholensis (F.A.C.Weber) N.P.Taylor
• Cereus huitcholensis F.A.C.Weber
• Echinocereus acifer subs. huitcholensis (F.A.C.Weber) Mich.Lange
• Echinocereus huitcholensis (F.A.C.Weber) Gürke
• Echinocereus polyacanthus var. huitcholensis (F.A.C.Weber) N.P.Taylor
• Echinocereus triglochidiatus subs. huitcholensis (F.A.C.Weber) U.Guzmán
• Echinocereus plomosus hort.

• Echinocereus polyacanthus subs. pacificus (Engelm. ex Orcutt) Breckw.
• Cereus pacificus (Engelm.) J.M.Coult.
• Cereus phoeniceus var. pacificus Engelm. ex Orcutt
• Echinocereus pacificus (Engelm. ex Orcutt) Britton & Rose
• Echinocereus polyacanthus var. pacificus (Engelm. ex Orcutt) N.P.Taylor
• Echinocereus triglochidiatus subs. pacificus (Engelm. ex Orcutt) U.Guzmán
• Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. pacificus (Engelm. ex Orcutt) Bravo
• Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. pacificus (Engelm. ex Orcutt) W.T.Marshall
• Echinocereus mombergerianus G.Frank
• Echinocereus pacificus subs. mombergerianus (G.Frank) W.Blum, W.Rischer & Rutow in W.Blum et al.
• Echinocereus polyacanthus subs. mombergerianus (G.Frank) Breckw.

Description: Echinocereus polyacanthusSN|15743]]SN|7070]] subs. huitcholensis (Echinocereus huitcholensisSN|7070]]SN|15743]]) is a clumping cactus, forming cushions, with brilliant orange up to 11 cm long flower.
Derivation of specific name: "huitcholensis" for the occurrence in the Sierra de los Huitcholes, Jalisco, Mexico.
Stems: 4 to 6 cm long, 2 to 4 cm in diameter.
Radial spines: 10 to 12.
Central spine: Usually solitary
Flowers: Diurnal, arising near the stem's apex, 11 cm long or less, narrow funnel-form, with a pronounced tube. Perianth-segments uncertain
orange, spines on ovary and tube weak, acicular. Areoles of flower-tube bearing long cobwebby hairs.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Paul Carpenter Standley, United States National Museum “Trees and Shrubs of Mexico: Passifloraceae-Scrophulariaceae” U.S. Government Printing Office, 1924
2) Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose “Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” Volume 3, 1922
3) “Contributions from the United States National Herbarium”, Volume 23 Smithsonian Institution Press, 1926
4) Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton “Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names” Springer Science & Business Media, 29 June 2013

Cultivation and Propagation: This cactus is widely cultivated for its flowers. It is among the easiest species to grow, flower and propagate. Water regularly from March to October. Rot prone in winter, it needs good drainage. Claret Cups require strong sunlight to maintain a healthy appearance, and a harsh "dry and cool" winter environment combined with maximum light exposure enhances spring flower production.
Frost Tolerance: Depends on the variety. The species from Baja California is less resistant (hardy to -5° C); the other varieties are much more cold resistant (some populations can tolerate temperatures down to -12° C or less)