ECHINOCACTUS GRUSONII (GOLDEN BARREL)

Echinocactus grusonii is a slow growing, globose, spiny succulent with light green skin, which can grow up to three feet tall (1, 3, 6, 7). Plants which are older than a few years will be symmetrically ribbed, with 21 to 37 ribs per cactus. The golden barrel’s spines are yellow, and one to two inches long, arranged in evenly spaced clusters along the ribs (1, 2, 6, 7). The central spines of the golden barrel are two to four inches long. E. grusonii can take up to 20 years to fully mature, (1, 6, 7) and most cultivated plants will not reach full size (7). In summer, mature golden barrels will develop an apical ring of yellow flowers, followed by brown fruits (1, 6, 7)