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Ferocactus wislizeni
Ferocactus wislizeni (Engelm.) Britton & Rose
Candy Barrel, Candy Barrel Cactus, Fishhook Barrel Cactus, Southwestern Barrel Cactus
Cactaceae (Cactus Family)
Synonym(s): Echinocactus wislizeni
USDA Symbol: fewi
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
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: PerennialHabit: Cactus/Succulent
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Up to about 10 feet tall.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Red , Orange , YellowBloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov
Distribution
USA: AZ , NM , TXNative Distribution: AZ east to west Texas, south in northwestern Mexico to Sinaloa
Native Habitat: Deserts; grasslands; rocky areas
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Sandy or gravelly soils.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Attractive, Blooms ornamental, Desert landscapeUse Wildlife: Fruits attract birds and small mammals.
Warning: This cactus has very sharp spines.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Propagation
Commercially Avail: yesBibliography
Bibref 1141 - Cactuses of Big Bend National Park (1998) Evans, Douglas B.Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski
Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Ferocactus wislizeni in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Ferocactus wislizeni in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ferocactus wislizeni
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-02-10Research By: TWC Staff