This species is generally near the coast of the Sea of Cortez in Sonora and Sinaloa, Mexico. Somewhat resembling S. gummosus from Baja California, both plants are sprawling shrubs with few upright stems. The differences in S. alamosensis are in the smaller joints, a different arrangement and size of spines, and the flowers, which are red and tubular. Our plants have taken 20F with minor tip and rib damage. These plants are seedlings in 12-inch pots.