Echinocactus

( ek - in - oh - KAK - tus )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of cacti is also called Barrel Cactus, and they form large cylindrical plants with prominent ribs and sharp thorns. Most are native to the Southwestern United States. The most popular species is Echinocactus grusonii, or Golden Barrel Cactus, a native of Mexico. It gets 4 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide, and produces offsets to form clumps that reach 6 feet across. Spines are showy, and yellow flowers top the plant in summer. These plants need protection from frost, and water every few weeks in the summertime. 

Echinocactus Species and Varietals

The genus Echinocactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae and includes 6 species. ​They grow best in zones 12-24 (to find your zone, click here: Zone Map).

Echinocactus horizonthalonius (Devilshead, Turk's Head Cactus, Blue Barrel Cactus, Eagle's Claw, Horse Maimer, Horse Crippler, Visngaga Meloncillo)
Native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, these plants form a grey-green to blue-grey rounded body with a cylindrical, flat-topped shape. Spines are pink, grey, or brown and can be over 1.5 inches long. Plants can reach up to 18 inches tall by 8 inches wide. Flowers are bright pink to magenta, and bloom around midday, closing up that evening. Fruits that follow blooms are hairy or woolly and pinkish-red in color.

Echinocactus parryi (Horse Crippler, Devil's Pincushion)
This cactus is endemic to the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, and forms a rounded, dark green plant with long pink to peach-colored spines. Flowers are yellow with reddish centers.

Echinocactus platyacanthus (Giant Barrel Cactus, Golden Barrel Cactus, Giant Viznaga, Biznaga de Dulce, Huitzli Nahual)
These Mexican native plants are the largest in their genus. In Mexico, its hairs are used for weaving, and candy is made using the pith. It is a slow-grower that eventually reaches up to over 8 feet tall and 5 feet wide. They can live for over 100 years, and have grey-blue stems and straight, black, rigid spines.

Caring for echinocactus

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

Wikipedia: Echinocactus
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 296, Echinocactus
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