desert cactus
Fishhook barrel cactus
Ferocactus wislizeni
1 of 2Native to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas
Arizona east to west Texas, south in northwestern Mexico to Sinaloa
- Light Full sun Sun tolerance
- Moisture Dry Moisture preference
- Zones n/a Cold to heat range
- Bloom Jun–Sep Flowering time
- Height up to 10 ft to 3.0 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A desert cactus for full sun and lean, dry soil. At up to 10 ft, it needs room in rock gardens, gravel beds, and hot, dry spots.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Barrel Cactus Longhorn
also Western Honey Bee, Dianthidium discors, Prickly-pear Angled-Mason +3 more
Cactus Bee, Svastra duplocincta, Sonoran Bumble Bee - Beetles Acmaeodera quadrivittatoides
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- DesertThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Arizona, New Mexico, and TexasUnited States (3): AZ, NM, TX. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Arizona east to west Texas, south in northwestern Mexico to SinaloaThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sunHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- DryThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Soil
- Sandy or gravelly soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to medium (sandy to loamy)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- 7.0–8.5The acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
- Soil quality
- LowHow rich a soil it needs. Many natives prefer lean soil and flop in rich beds.
- Water use
- LowHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
- Salinity tolerance
- LowHow well it copes with salty soil, near roads or the coast.
- Lime (CaCO₃) tolerance
- HighHow well it copes with chalky, lime-rich soil.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 10 ft (to 3.0 m)Typical mature height.
- Spread
- ~2 ft (0.6 m)How wide one plant gets, a guide to spacing.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
- Growth rate
- SlowA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.
- Shape
- ClimbingIts overall silhouette.
- Root depth
- 6+ in (15+ cm)How far the roots reach, a guide to drought resilience and transplanting.
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- CactusWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Jun–SepWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- Red, Orange, YellowThe bloom color, or colors.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.
Propagation & seed
- Cold stratification
- Not requiredWhether seed needs a cold, moist spell before it will germinate.
- Propagation
- Bare root, container, cuttings, seedHow to start new plants.
- Seed
- ~1 million seeds per poundNotes on the seed and how to sow it.
- Seed spread rate
- SlowHow readily it self-sows. Slow or none means well-behaved, not a spreader.
- Seedling vigor
- MediumHow strongly young seedlings establish.