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 Status – Protected 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