Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus wislizenii)

   

Barrel Cactus. Photograph by A.H. Harris.

• Common English Names: Barrel Cactus, Southwestern Barrel Cactus, Fishook Barrel Cactus, Compass Cactus
• Common Spanish Names: Biznaga de Agua
• Scientific Name: Ferocactus wislizenii (fair-row-KAK-tus wiz-lih-ZEN-ee-aye)
• Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)
• Geographic Range: El Paso County, Texas, west to Arizona and south to Sinaloa, Sonora, and Chihuahua, Mexico.
• Plant Form: Unbranched columnar body, usually 2 to 4' tall by 1' diameter, exceptionally taller and wider.
• Remarks: Red, orange, or yellow blooms up to 2" diameter, July to September. Fruit turning yellow when mature, persisting for up to a year. Flowering size (about 10" x 10") is reached in about 12 years in cultivation. Full sun, good drainage.

Last Update: 4 Jul 2002