Ferocactus wislizeni – Candy Barrelcactus

Ferocactus wislizeni - Candy Barrelcactus, Candy Barrel Cactus, Arizona Barrel Cactus, Southwestern Barrel Cactus, Fishhook Barrel Cactus (orange flowers)

Ferocactus wislizeni - Candy Barrelcactus, Candy Barrel Cactus, Arizona Barrel Cactus, Southwestern Barrel Cactus, Fishhook Barrel Cactus (red flower)

Ferocactus wislizeni - Candy Barrelcactus, Candy Barrel Cactus, Arizona Barrel Cactus, Southwestern Barrel Cactus, Fishhook Barrel Cactus (yellow flowers)

Ferocactus wislizeni - Candy Barrelcactus, Candy Barrel Cactus, Arizona Barrel Cactus, Southwestern Barrel Cactus, Fishhook Barrel Cactus (fruit)

Ferocactus wislizeni - Candy Barrelcactus, Candy Barrel Cactus, Arizona Barrel Cactus, Southwestern Barrel Cactus, Fishhook Barrel Cactus (yellow flowers)Ferocactus wislizeni - Candy Barrelcactus, Candy Barrel Cactus, Arizona Barrel Cactus, Southwestern Barrel Cactus, Fishhook Barrel Cactus

Plant Name

Scientific Name: Ferocactus wislizeni

Synonym: Ferocactus wislizenii

Common Names: Candy Barrelcactus, Candy Barrel Cactus, Arizona Barrel Cactus, Southwestern Barrel Cactus, Fishhook Barrel Cactus

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial (Long-lived)

Growth Habit: Tree, Shrub, Cactus

Arizona Native Status: Native

Habitat: Desert, Upland

Flower Color: Orange (the most common flower color), Red, Yellow

Flowering Season: Summer. These cacti bloom from July to September.

Height: To 8 feet (2.4 m) tall

Description: The 2 1/2 inch (6.35 cm) wide flowers have numerous narrow tepals and are followed by edible, but sour yellow fruits. Ground squirrels and other desert rodents are very fond of the fruit. The large, stout main spines are reddish and downcurved. The barrel-shaped stem leans to face southward. The showy flowers ring the tops of the barrel-shaped cacti. These plump cacti eventually grow too tall and heavy for their roots to support, and they will then fall over and slowly die.

These attractive cacti are available in native plant and cactus nurseries. They are protected, so don't collect wild plants.

Special Characteristics

Edible – The ripe yellow fruits are edible, but they are tart, lemony, and firm-textured. The flowers and flower buds are edible and are best if cooked and used like a vegetable.

Legal StatusProtected Native Plant (Salvage Restricted)

Classification

Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Caryophyllidae
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae – Cactus family
Genus: Ferocactus Britt. & Rose – barrel cactus
Species: Ferocactus wislizeni (Engelm.) Britt. & Rose – candy barrelcactus

More About This Plant

Arizona County Distribution Map