Golden barrel is an iconic cactus of the desert southwest. It adds color and texture to any desert garden. Here’s everything you need to know about planting and caring for this popular landscape plant.
Golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) is an extremely undemanding plant. It grows in full or part sun. It requires no pruning and produces no litter. It needs little water and can take both extreme desert heat and cold.
Unlike some cacti which have spectacular flowers, the flowers of golden barrel cactus are delicate rather than dramatic and not its main feature. Its symmetry and rows of golden yellow spines are. Plants look particularly stunning when backlit.
When plants reach maturity (around 20 years old), a ring of pale yellow flowers grows around the crown, followed by yellow fruit.
Some local pollinators, such as birds, bees, and butterflies, may visit, but its flowers are not a major wildlife attractant.
Why I Like This Plant
- Stunning cactus can be a focal point of your yard
- Yellow spines glow when backlit
- Very slow growing — what you see is what you get
- As maintenance-free as a plant can be
- Deer, rabbit, and javelina resistant
Golden barrel is one of the most popular cactus in cultivation.
But it’s endangered in the wild due to
loss of habitat and illegal poaching.
Things to Watch Out For
- Can develop root rot with too much water
- Has very prominent spines
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding a golden barrel to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Golden barrel cactus should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 – 11. It’s cold-hardy down to 20℉ and can survive brief temperature dips into the teens.
While it’s a native of Mexico and grows naturally in a hot, dry climate, some golden barrel cactus succumbed to the record-breaking heat of 2023 in urban heat sinks like Phoenix.
Sun Exposure
Golden barrel cactus survive in full sun and part shade. They do best when they get 6 hours of sun per day, but appreciate some afternoon shade in the hottest environments. This is particularly true when plants are young.
Surprisingly, even cactus like some relief from our relentless sun and can suffer sunburn if coming from a greenhouse or a nursery where they were protected by shade cloth.
Size and Growth Rate
Golden barrel cactus grows slowly, only one to two inches per year. This can be considered a plus or a minus.
Since what you see is more or less what you get, you don’t have to worry about it outgrowing its space.
You may notice some white fuzzy stuff on top of the cactus and wonder what it is.
These white hairs are called trichomes and are perfectly normal.
They protect new growth from UV radiation and temperature extremes.
Soil
Golden barrel cactus is not particular about soil and grows well in any native desert soil, provided it is well-draining.
It can be grown in containers. If you plant yours in a pot, make sure it has drainage holes and use specifically formulated cactus soil.
Golden Barrel Cactus:
The Essentials
| Common Name | Golden barrel cactus |
| Scientific Name | Echinocactus grusonii |
| Origin | Central Mexico |
| Plant Type | Barrel cactus |
| USDA Zones | Zones 9 – 12 |
| Cold Hardiness | To 20℉ |
| Flower Color | Yellow |
| Flower Season | Summer |
| Mature Size | 2-3’ high x 2-3’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Very slow |
| Sun Tolerance | Full sun, part sun |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Pests & Diseases | Root rot if overwatered |
| Cautions | Prominent spines |
| Wildlife | Deer, rabbit, javelina resistant |
How to Plant
Dig a hole as deep as and twice as wide as the nursery container. Carefully remove the plant from the container, put it in the hole, and press the soil to remove any air pockets.
It’s generally recommended to skip adding amendments and backfill with just native soil.
However, good drainage is critical. If you know your soil is slow-draining, amend with coarse sand or small gravel until you have a loose, well-drained mix.
Plant your cactus facing in the same direction that it was in the nursery. Better nurseries will mark the pot so you know which direction your cactus has been facing. Surprisingly, cactus can get sunburned and planting them in the same direction can minimize this.
Planting cactus is serious business — so be prepared. Helpful tools include tongs and old pieces of carpet or old towels. Wear long sleeves and sturdy, protective gloves. Most garden gloves are no match for our spikiest desert plants. I use a thick pair of welder gloves.
When to Plant
The best time to plant cactus is in the spring or early summer when warm soil temperatures encourage root development.
How to Care for Golden Barrel Cactus
Whether you’ve recently planted a golden barrel or have an existing plant in your yard, here’s how to take care of it to keep it healthy and looking its best.
How to Water
You’re probably used to giving a plant a good soaking immediately after transplanting, but that isn’t the best practice with cactus.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum advises not to water cactus for one to two weeks after planting.
When your cactus is young, water it once per month during the hot spring and summer, unless you’ve had rains of ½ “ or more. It should not need any irrigation during the winter. Too much water can cause this cactus to rot.
Once established, it should not need any water, except during extreme drought.
Should You Fertilize?
There is no need to fertilize golden barrel cactus, they get all the nutrients they need from the desert soil. But if you keep it in a pot, fertilize lightly a few times a year when it’s actively growing.
Pruning and Propagation
Since golden barrel cactus is a globe, there is nothing to prune! However, you may want to tidy it up by removing spent flowers and fruits.
If your mature specimen blooms, it leaves behind yellow fruit with brown dried flowers stuck to the top. I personally don’t find this attractive, and pluck them out with tongs. When they’re ready, they pop out easily. I find this oddly satisfying in an ASMR sort of way.
And of course, you can also do this if you’d like to try the edible fruit. Traditionally, both the fruits and seeds were eaten by indigenous communities.
Older plants sometimes produce offsets. This may or may not appeal to you. In more formal settings, this can upset the garden’s symmetry.
If offsets aren’t to your liking or you wish to try to propagate a new plant, you can remove one by grabbing it with rubber-tipped tongs and giving it a twist.
If you want to grow a new plant, wait a few days for it to callus and then stick it in a pot filled with cactus soil.
It sounds insane, but you can encourage your cactus to produce pups by either sticking a hot nail in the top or drilling out the core of your plant with a drill! 😮
This is what nurseries do, but I don’t recommend it. It will hasten the demise of the parent plant and I can’t guarantee your success.
Plant Lover Facts
Golden barrel cactus is in the unusual position of being one of the most popular cultivated cacti in the world and yet it is endangered in the wild.
This is due in part to loss of habitat due to the construction of the Zimapán Dam in Hildago, Mexico. But distressingly, it’s believed to be mainly due to cactus poachers.
It’s been estimated that only 11,000 of these iconic cactus currently remain in the wild.
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for 15 years.
