Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus wislizeni
Succulents & Cacti Difficulty: Easy
📖 About this plant
A large, ribbed, barrel-shaped cactus densely covered in prominent hooked spines. One of the most iconic desert plants, it stores enormous quantities of water in its thick, pleated body. Produces a crown of bright yellow, orange, or red flowers at the top during summer. Extremely drought-tolerant and long-lived, often surviving 50+ years in the wild.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
☀️
Light
Full sun (8+ hrs)
💧
Water
Every 3-4 weeks
💨
Humidity
Very low (10-30%)
🌡️
Temperature
15-40°C
🪴
Soil
Sandy, rocky, mineral-rich soil with excellent drainage; standard cactus mix works well
🧪
Fertilizer
Low-nitrogen cactus fertilizer diluted to half strength once in spring and once in summer
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Southwestern United States (Arizona, Texas) and northern Mexico; Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts
- 📏 Max height
- 60-180 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 30-90 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Summer
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Yellow, Orange, Red
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Dark Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Very Slow
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic but sharp spines can cause significant physical injury; handle with extreme care
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seed propagation; offsets occasionally produced by mature plants
🛡️ Health & Safety
🐾 Pet safe
✅ Non-toxic
Non-toxic but sharp spines can cause significant physical injury; handle with extreme care
Common issues
- Root rot from overwatering, Spider mites on areoles, Sunburn from sudden exposure, Mealybugs
💡 Care tips
- Ribbed round shape expands like an accordion after rain,Grows very slowly often only an inch per year,Always water at the base to avoid water trapped between ribs,Covered in sharp hooked spines so handle with extreme care
🪴 Add to My Plants
One click — added instantly. Watering every 25 days, fertilizing every 30 days.
