Ferocactus wislizeni

Common Names

Arizona Barrel Cactus, Candy Barrel Cactus, Fishhook Barrel Cactus, Compass Barrel Cactus, Southwestern Barrel Cactus, Wislizen's Barrel Cactus

Summary

Arizona barrel cactus is a barrel-shaped to occasionally columnar succulent native to the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, including southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and El Paso County, Texas, with distribution into Sinaloa and Chihuahua. It grows usually solitary, reaching about 1–2 m tall and 0.5–0.8 m in diameter, with 20–28 ribs and areoles bearing spines; central spines are hooked and up to 8–10 cm long, radial spines 12–20. Summer flowers are yellow to orange to red and about 4–8 cm long, and bright yellow fruits persist after flowering; the stem is green to blue-green and plants tend to lean southward with age.

For cultivation, full sun, well-drained soil, and sparse watering with a winter dormancy are required; propagation is by seed; it is used as an ornamental plant in desert landscaping and xeriscaping; pollinated by cactus bees, with fruits eaten by birds and mule deer.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2-10 feet

Spread

1.5-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 9-11

Sunlight Requirements

Full Sun

Soil Type

Well-draining, gritty soil; sandy or rocky substrates with pebbles or coarse sand

Soil Drainage

Well-draining soil

Soil pH

Circumneutral (pH ~7)

Bloom Color

Yellow to red-orange

Bloom Time

Spring, Summer, Fall

Foliage Color

Green to blue-gray foliage, asparagus green or greyish-green

Fall Foliage Color

Orange

Leaf Lifecycle

Other

Growth Rate

Slow growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and birds