Echinocactus grusonii
Golden barrel cactus, Mother-in-law's seat, Eagle's claw
- Height × spread
- 1.2m × 0.8m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 5C & above (RHS H1c)
- Flowers
- Spring, Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
One of the most beautiful of all cactus. The barrel cactus makes a fat round shape with green skin and golden spines, lovely against the light, and wonderful when grown in a colony! In 40 years they will make a barrel that is 1.2 metres tall and a metre wide. It will not flower until it has a diameter of 35cm. The flowers are golden yellow and make a circle round the top. This is threatened in its wild habitat as the Rio Montezuma hydroelectric dam has taken over. In Arizona it can take -5C of frost and needs to be dry to thrive when it gets cold.
- Flower colour
- Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green, Yellow
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Round
- Height
- 1.2m
- Spread
- 0.8m
- Height in 10 years
- 0.3m
- Spread in 10 years
- 0.4m
- Flowers in
- Spring, Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Indoors, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 5C & above (RHS H1c)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- full light at all times
- Indoor temperature
- 10C minimum temperature
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- Yes, leaves & stems are prickly/thorny
AutumnNow
Autumn-Winter · Indoors
Keep dry during dormancy
Keep dry during the period of dormancy or resting, which is likely to be from the middle of the autumn until spring.
Spring
Spring-Summer · Indoors
Feed with cactus feed
Use specialist cactus feed and apply monthly from April to August, using the quantity advised on the label.
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Water regularly during growth
Water regularly while in growth
Adopt a regime whereby plants are thoroughly watered every week so that they do not become dessicated. In hot weather watering may need to be more frequent, but less often in cool or moist conditions.
Planting & general
Indoor temperature · Planting
10C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 10 Centigrade.
Compost · Planting
Cactus compost for repotting
Use standard cactus compost. Top the soil with grit or granite chips to ensure perfect drainage around plant stem. Repot when the plant is dry and delay watering for 3 days after repotting.
You can also make own compost using 3 parts John Innes no. 2, 1 part horticultural grit, and 1 part horticultural grade perlite or pumice. There are many 'recipes' available and opinions vary widely - consult specialist literature or websites.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in a sunny spot, eg windowsill
Give this plant a position where there is as much light and sunlight as possible. It is suitable for sunny windowsills as it can cope with high day temperatures and lower night temperatures.