Barrel cactus facts for kids

A golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii), which grows only in Mexico.

Barrel cacti are cool, round plants that live in the hot deserts of Southwestern North America. They belong to two main groups, called Echinocactus and Ferocactus. Some of the biggest barrel cacti can be found in the Mojave Desert in southern California.

What Do Barrel Cacti Look Like?

Some barrel cacti can grow taller than a person, reaching over 3 feet (1 meter) tall when they are fully grown. Some have even been known to reach 10 feet (3 meters) tall!

These cacti have many noticeable ridges, like ribs. Their long spines can be yellow, tan, or red. The color depends on how old the plant is and what type of barrel cactus it is.

Barrel Cactus Flowers and Fruit

Barrel cacti only grow flowers at the very top of the plant, and only after they are many years old. These amazing plants can live for over 100 years!

The flowers usually start to bloom in April. They are often bright yellow or orange. You might also see pink or red flowers, but these are less common. As the flowers start to fade in early May, their color might change. Sometimes, a late summer rainstorm can make them bloom again.

After the flowers wilt, small, greenish fruits that look a bit like tiny pineapples can grow. If left alone, these fruits can stay on the cactus for a whole year! You can easily pick the fruit, but most people don't eat it because it's usually dry and tastes bitter.

Interesting Facts About Barrel Cacti

Six young barrel cacti growing together in the Mojave desert.

Long ago, Native Americans sometimes collected the fruit of the barrel cactus. They used it as emergency food when there was very little water or other food available.

The Seri people, who live in Mexico, had special names for three types of barrel cacti:

• Saguaro barrel cactus — Ferocactus cylindraceus
• Siml caacöl (big barrel cactus) or siml cöquicöt (killer barrel cactus) — Ferocactus emoryi
• Siml áa (true barrel cactus) — Ferocactus wislizeni

In Mexico, the soft inside part of the barrel cactus is sometimes made into a sweet candy treat.

Growing Barrel Cacti

Barrel cacti are grown by plant nurseries to be used as decorative plants in gardens. They are known to be easy to grow and can grow fairly quickly. Sometimes, they even produce small, round baby cacti that grow off the main plant.

Barrel cacti can sometimes lean over. This happens because they tend to grow towards the south. This helps them avoid getting sunburned on their surface. Because of this, they are sometimes called "compass cacti."

Images for kids

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  Fishhook barrel cactus with fruit

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  Close-up of barrel cactus flowers

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  A field of barrel cacti in a gravel garden in California, USA

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  A cluster of barrel cacti in Sahuarita, Arizona

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  A barrel cactus at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum botanical garden

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  A blooming barrel cactus in the Mojave Desert, California

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  A late-blooming barrel cactus in Landers, California

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  A barrel cactus in the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona