General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9a -6.7 °C (20 °F) to -3.9 °C (25 °F)
Fruit: Dehiscent
Flower Color: Yellow
Bloom Size: 1"-2"
Flower Time: Spring
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Will Naturalize
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Resistances: Drought tolerant
Pollinators: Bees
Containers: Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth

Image
Common names
  • Barrel Cactus
  • Ferocactus
  • Biznaga

Photo Gallery
Location: Baja California
Date: 2018-03-02
Location: Puebla
Date: 2022-12-03
Location: Puebla
Date: 2022-12-03
Location: Baja California
Date: 2018-10-02
Location: Baja California
Date: 2023-11-27
Sunburn (south-facing side)
Location: Botanical Garden La Concepcion - Malaga
Date: 2015-03-25
Location: Malta Botanical Garden
Date: 2022-09-06
Location: Puebla
Date: 2022-12-01

photo credit: H. Zell
Location: Boyce Thompson Arboretum, AZ.
Date: 2015-01-18
Location: Desert Botanical Garden Phoenix Arizona
Date: 2016-01-04
Location: Guanajuato
Date: 2016-12-12
Location: Puebla
Date: 2022-12-03
Stressed or dying
Location: Puebla
Date: 2022-12-01
Location: Puebla
Date: 2022-12-01
Location: Guanajuato, Mexico
Date: 2016-12-12
With fruit
Location: Puebla
Date: 2022-12-01

photo credit: H. Zell
Location: Puebla
Date: 2022-12-03
Lower stem lacks ribs and spines
Location: Oaxaca
Date: 2022-11-30
With flower and fruit
Location: Botanical Garden Meise (Belgium)
Date: 2017-02-11
Location: All pictures taken in/on my gardens/greenhouse/property
Date: 2023-04-23
Location: San Diego Botanic Garden
Date: 2018-07-15
Comments:
  • Posted by Baja_Costero (Baja California - Zone 11b) on Nov 24, 2016 10:47 PM concerning plant:
    Small-stemmed, clumping Mexican Ferocactus which grows in great mounds to 3 feet high and 15 feet wide with extended age. Yellow/orange flowers. Fat penetrating roots. From Puebla. The only member of the genus with this prolific branching habit.
  • Posted by Johannian (The Black Hills, SD - Zone 4b) on Jan 11, 2022 9:18 PM concerning plant:
    Range: Southern California to south-central Arizona. Additional info: the genus name comes from the Latin ferox (which means "fierce"), commonly applied to very spiny plants.

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