Barrel or Golden-Ball cactus
Echinocactus grusonii (CACTACEAE)
Planting and Growing Barrel Cactus
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow barrel or golden-ball cactus in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and fruit of barrel or golden-ball cactus
- Growing conditions for barrel or golden-ball cactus
- When and where to plant barrel or golden-ball cactus
- How to plant barrel or golden-ball cactus
- How to shape, prune and control growth of barrel or golden-ball cactus
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of barrel or golden-ball cactus
- Landscape uses of barrel or golden-ball cactus
- Pest and disease control for barrel or golden-ball cactus
Growing Barrel Cactus
Several cultivars of slow-growing, ball-shaped, ribbed cacti, to 4 ft. (1.2 m) in diameter, armed with golden yellow becoming white, brown, needlelike spines in flat, radiating clusters, to 1-1/2-in. (38-mm) long, surrounding erect, central spines, to 2 in. (50 mm) long. Offsets form colonies over time.
Barrel Cactus Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Fruit
Showy, green yellow, open, double-petaled flowers, 1-1/2–2-in. (38–50–mm) wide, in a ringlike cluster circling the top of the plant, in summer, form woolly, red, yellow, round fruit, to 3/4-in. (19-mm) wide, in autumn.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 7–11. Semi-hardy. Best in arid, mild-winter climates.
Soil Type and Fertility
Damp to dry, well-drained, sandy soil. Fertility: Average. 7.0–8.5 pH. Salt tolerant.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun to partial shade. Space 1–2 ft. (30–60 cm) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Water deeply in spring–autumn; allow soil to dry between waterings and throughout winter. Fertilize annually in summer. Propagate by offsets, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, borders, containers in arid, natural, small-space gardens. Good as houseplant. Pest and disease resistant.
Warning:
Spines can be hazardous; avoid planting in areas frequented by pets and children.