Golden Barrel Cactus

Golden Barrel Cactus has a round, ribbed shape covered in golden yellow spines, and it is one of the most recognisable cactus varieties used in gardens around the world.

It comes in a 20cm pot and loves full, hot sun, making it especially well suited to open, sunny areas in a UAE garden, rock garden, or a large decorative pot on a sunny terrace.

Water it very sparingly, roughly once a month, and even less during winter, since too much water is the main way to harm this plant. Handle it with thick gloves when repotting, since the spines are sharp, and give it space to grow, as it slowly gets wider over the years.

Plant Information

• Botanical Name: Echinocactus grusonii
• Local Name: Golden Ball Cactus
• Family: Cactaceae
• Average Size: 60cm to 1m wide, full grown (very slow growing)
• Native To: Central Mexico
• Environment: Outdoor, full sun
• Climate: Arid, desert