SEEDS for Candy Barrel Cactus ~ Fishhook Barrel - Ferocactus Wislizeni ~ Native Arizona Sonoran Desert Cactus ~ Ethically Sourced Seeds

SEEDS for Candy Barrel Cactus ~ Fishhook Barrel - Ferocactus Wislizeni ~ Native Arizona Sonoran Desert Cactus ~ Ethically Sourced Seeds

Ferocactus wislizeni

Candy Barrel, Candy Barrel Cactus, Fishhook Barrel Cactus, Southwestern Barrel Cactus

Synonym(s): Echinocactus wislizeni

This cactus grows primarily in desert shrub and grasslands in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts, but also in shrub-steppe, Chaparral, mountain shrub, pinyon-juniper open forest and deserts often on gritty, rocky or sandy soils on the hill-sides from 300 to 1,600 m elevation. It gets lots of water in two months and lots of sun all year. They are not associated with washes and arroyos but rather grow along rocky ridges and open bajadas. The "fishhook" spines and the armored web of spines enclosing the cactus body are a defense against herbivory. It prefers full sun, and does well in hot arid climates. It is, however, frost-tolerant to -15 degree Celsius. The flowers are pollinated by cactus bees (Lithurge spp.). Mule deer, birds, and javelina eat the fruit. The birds especially like the seeds. The people of the Sonoran Desert use the fruit for candy and jelly. The skin thickens with age, making older cacti more fire resistant.

A cylindrical cactus, Candy Barrel Cactus or Fishhook Barrel Cactus sometimes reaches 10 ft. in height and 2 ft. in diameter and is one of our rarest cacti. It is round in its early stages, then oval or cone-shaped, and finally cylindrical. It has 13-25 vertical ribs extending from the bottom to the top of the stem. The tubercles that make up the ribs are pointed. The yellowish-red or purplish-red spines are in groups of 12-20, with 3 or 4 much stronger than the others, 1 1/2-4 inches long. The upper 3 are straight, and the fourth is usually hooked downward and is much heavier than the other 3. The flowers vary in color among shades of yellow, gold, red, and orange, and are about 2 inches long and up to 3 inches across. The petals are short in relation to the width of the center portion. Yellow fruits follow.

Fruits attract birds and small mammals.

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Up to about 10 feet tall.
Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Orange , Yellow
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov
Distribution

USA: AZ , NM , TX
Native Distribution: AZ east to west Texas, south in northwestern Mexico to Sinaloa
Native Habitat: Deserts; grasslands; rocky areas
Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Sandy or gravelly soils.
Benefit

Use Ornamental: Attractive, Blooms ornamental, Desert landscape
Use Wildlife: Fruits attract birds and small mammals.
Warning: This cactus has very sharp spines.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes