Barrel Cactus

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Barrel Cactus
Probably the most well known barrel cactus is the golden barrel, Echinocactus grusonii with its bright yellow spines. Its unusual coloring makes it a popular container plant or a point of interest in the garden. Unlike some of the native barrels with their green color and strong fishhook thorns the golden barrels' thorns are more of a gentle curve.

The native Fishhook barrel, Ferocities wislizenii, is common around the Tucson desert and produces large clusters of showy flowers either yellow, red or orange in color. A bright, many seeded pineapple like fruit follows the flower which birds and other desert wildlife eat. The thorns of the fishhook barrel can be treacherous especially around pets.

I once heard a scream in my back yard and had to run outside to see what could be in so much distress. On closer inspection I found a young woodpecker stuck to the cactus with the hooked thorns penetrating the wings. I used pliers to pull the thorns from the cactus and then cut them from the bird. On its release the woodpecker ended up hopping off not flying.

These two golden barrels were purchased as small container plants and placed together in the garden.
This fishhook barrel has doubled in size since it was transplanted nearly 10 years ago. As it matures it has a definite tilt toward the south.
Fishhook barrel cactus thorns can be treacherous. These look like vicious serpents raising their heads to attack.
Golden barrel cactus thorns are less rigid and less likely to cause the damage the fishhook shaped thorns can cause.

On another occasion our cat, which was on a leash, got tangled up in a barrel cactus. Between the screaming, (the cat) and the crying (me) I managed to once again pull the thorns from the cactus and then remove them from the cat. I suffered with the vet bill and the cat had to wear one of those unwieldy dish TV antenna like collars until her wounds healed. The irony of the story was the cat was on a leash to avoid expensive vet bills.

These two fishhook type barrel cactus have two different colored flowers. The top pictures shows the barrel cactus buds around the center, flowers and eventual pineapple looking fruit.

I'd also like to mention the time I accidentally kicked a fishhook barrel cactus while wearing tennis shoes. There's only one word to describe the sensation. "Ouch!" I've mapped out the location of almost all the barrels on the property but new ones seem to spring up every year.

Easy to Grow
Usually when you purchase a barrel cactus from the nursery or cactus farm they'll notch the container pointing to the south and you should then plant your specimen so it points in the same direction to prevent sunburn. As the barrel cactus matures they seem to lean toward the south.

Any desert soil with good drainage should be adequate or if its placed in a pot use a soil mix specifically formulated for cactus and succulents.

You can handle the cactus with heavy leather gloves or as I've done on more than one occasion, wrap the barrel in a heavy towel to position and plant.

Like most cactus the barrel stores moisture in it's barrel or cylinder shape. In times of drought the cactus will gradually shrivel until the moisture is replenished from rain or the friendly gardener with a hose. The slow growing barrel cactus need little water once established. (2000)