General: California Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus) are large, round, barrel-shaped cactus with ribs (flutes) running from bottom to top. Barrel cactus start out short and wide (globular), then grow to about 5-ft tall and 16 inches in diameter. The plants are covered with relatively long, stout, flattened spines. The spines are erect and spreading, the longest are recurved, and they have some red color. Yellow flowers form a ring around the top of the stem. Barrels are generally uncommon cactus of rocky hillsides, but they can be locally common.

Barrel cactus most often occur in rocky places and cliffs in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) life zone, although they can be found on bajadas below cliffy areas. One of the best places to see Barrel Cactus around Las Vegas is on Fossil Hill at Red Rock Canyon NCA.

Family: Cactus (Cactaceae).

Other Names: Compass cactus, barrelcactus.

Plant Form: Single, stout, upright stem. Young plants are globular (short and wide).

Height: To 5-ft tall and 16 inches in diameter.

Trunk: None.

Stem: Single, unbranched.

Stem Surface: Fluted (ribs) running from bottom to top, otherwise smooth.

Spines: Long, stout, flattened, curving, and reddish.

Glochids: None.

Flowers: Blooms in late spring and early summer. Inflorescence: single flowers near the top of the stem, forming a ring around the top. Flowers: all parts yellow, about 1-1/2 inches diameter.

Fruit: Fleshy yellow fruit that dries to brown.

Seeds: Black, many contained in each fruit.

Habitat: Most common in rocky areas and on cliffs, also found on bajadas.

Distribution: California to Utah, and south into Mexico.

Elevation: To about 4,500 ft.

Comments: Desert rodents and birds eat the fruits.

People often think that they can hack into a barrel cactus and get good drinking water. This is not true. While there is moisture inside the cactus, the effort needed to hack in and get the bitter liquid is not worth it.

Barrel cactus growing on limestone outcrop overlooking Red Rock Canyon NCA.

Barrel cactus and Mojave Yucca overlooking Red Rock Canyon NCA.

Barrel cactus spines.

The spines are red, flattened, and grow on the ridges (South McCullough Wilderness Area).

Flowers form in a ring around the top of the stem (Red Rock Canyon NCA).

Flowers.

Flower and a bud (Red Rock Canyon NCA).

Dried fruits atop a barrel cactus.

Dry fruits atop a cactus (Red Rock Canyon NCA).

Individual dry fruit, perhaps pulled out by a rodent (top to the left) (Red Rock Canyon NCA).

Dried barrel cactus fruit.

This unusual barrel cactus looks like a Cottontop Cactus.