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Plant 11 Echinocactus grusonii
Discover the Golden Barrel Cactus, a critically endangered plant from Mexico known for its striking golden spines and yellow flowers.
Golden Barrel Cactus
Echinocactus grusonii
Plant Growth Form | Shrub (Herbaceous) |
Native distribution | Mexico |
Maximum Height | 1m |
Description:
Growth Form: Barrel-shaped cactus that reaches up to 0.9 m wide after a few decades, but occasionally grows up to 1.8 m wide.
Stems:Light green stem is initially ball shaped, but later elongates and becomes barrel-shaped at maturity. When grown in full sun, the stem becomes densely covered in golden-coloured spines.
Flowers: Yellow flowers (4 cm wide) form a ring at the crown, being partly submerged in a mass of wool-like hairs. Plants begin to flower after becoming at least 0.35 m wide.
Fruits: Pods produce numerous, tiny black seeds (1 mm wide).
Habitat :
This species is critically endangered due to habitat loss and over collection. However, it is commonly grown in the nursery trade.
Cultivation :
It will grow well indoors on a bright windowsill, but it must be grown in full sun to flower and develop golden-coloured spines.
Ethnobotanical Uses :
Some desert travellers use this species as a compass.