Golden Barrel-Echinocactus Grusonii

Echinocactus Grusonii- Golden Barrel

 This cacti grows fairly fast out of many species of Cactus

It blooms in pale yellow and blooms in the summer. It grows to be about 2-3 feet. Like all cacti the golden barrel cactus is drought tolerant. They are very prickly.

This one of the most popular of all cacti in cultivation. It is much admired for its large round form, dramatically adorned with neat rows of clustered golden spines. The flowers are also golden yellow in color, emerging from the large patch of wool at the center of the plant. They are produced a few at a time over a long period during the growing season in the warm months of the year.

 Large plants attain a size of over 2 feet across, and may remain single or produce pups at the side to form a clump.

Origin: They come from Queretaro State in Mexico, but have become very scarce in the wild due to inundation of much of their natural habitat from construction of a dam.

This cacti is rare and endangered in the wild..

Despite it's popularity..

When this cacti is mature it will get about 35 pronounced ribs 

the Spines are long and straight or slightly curved,

generally yellow to give the name Golden barrel, but sometimes they get white spines.

When this plant flowers; it gets small yellow flowers at the top or the crown in the summer, when the light is at the fullest, but only after it matures to about age 20 years.

Temperatures:

Average minimum winter temperature of 55ºF (12°C),

Golden Barrels are hardy to about 15ºF (-8ºC) for brief periods. Or they can be susceptible to scaring.

Watering:

Excess water in cool periods may lead to rot. Water every 2 weeks in the summer. Water once a month in the winter.

This Cacti in the Wild, Naturally Clusters