How to Grow and Care for Ferocactus

Townsend barrel cactus (Ferocactus peninsulae) is native to the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. Townsend barrel cactus grows in sandy or rocky soil and on hillsides in the wild. Due to illegal collection, this species is declining in the wild. Townsend barrel cactus is also eaten by cattle and its natural habitat is sensitive to urbanization.

Fishhook barrel cactus (*Ferocactus wislizeni*) is a succulent that will grow from 91 to 183 cm tall. A very rare cactus, it has spines that resemble fishhooks. It prefers full sun in sandy, well-drained soil and can be grown outdoors, but cannot withstand cold temperatures. It blooms in summer with yellow to red-orange flowers that grow on top of the cactus.

California barrel cactus, or Ferocactus cylindraceus, gets its name from its barrel shape. Also, ferocactus means fierce or wild cactus. This is probably the largest type of cactus that grows in American deserts. This cactus has fierce spines, flowers that grow out of the top, and hollow yellow fruits that generally are not regarded as edible.

Another name for turk's head (Ferocactus hamatacanthus) is the Mexican fruit cactus. You’ll mostly find this prickly species in the Chihuahuan Desert, next to the Rio Grande, and located in northern Mexico and the southwestern U.S. You can eat the fleshy fruits produced by the plant.

The san diego barrelcactus (Ferocactus viridescens) is a rare species of barrel cactus. This North American plant is almost exclusively found in San Diego County in California, where its natural habitat has been threatened by development. It is not cold hardy, although it can be grown outdoors in the warm summer months.