Perennials, Tropicals > Echinocactus > Echinocactus grusonii > Echinocactus grusonii
Echinocactus grusonii
Golden Barrel Cactus, Golden Ball, Mother-in-Law's Cushion
Origin: Central Mexico.
Mike's
Opinion
"
A 'red-listed' CITES protected endangered species but widely available in cultivation.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Cactaceae |
| Genus |
| Echinocactus |
| Species |
| grusonii |
| Category |
| Perennials, Tropicals |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 11a - 11b |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Requires cool season protection under glass. |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H1c |
| Temperature (°C) |
| 5 - 10 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 40 - 50 |
| Height |
| 60 - 90 cm |
| Spread |
| 90 - 120 cm |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Awards
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| Landscape |
| Container planting, desert and rock gardens. |
| Cultivation |
| Full sun and partial-shade. Well-drained soils with a pH of 6.1 - 7.8 (mildly acidic, neutral and mildly alkaline). Drought tolerant. |
| Shape |
| Spherical and elongated. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| Pests |
| Basal stem rot, soft rot and mealybugs. |
| Habitat |
| Semi-desert matorral, among volcanic rocks and slopes. |
| Leaf Description |
| Stems that bear 20 - 40 sharply angled ribs. Large, thick, spiky quills that are 5 - 8 cm long. |
| Flower Description |
| Small flowers appear in summer around the crown of the plant but only after about twenty years. |
| Colour Description |
| The stems are bright green. Yellow areoles that produce golden yellow spines. The flowers are bright yellow. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Kings Park and Botanical Garden, Perth, Australia. |
| Propagation |
| Dividing and woody stem cuttings and seed. |
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