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 red spines. These outer spines are erect and spreading, and the longest are recurved. Beneath these spines, white radial spines grow from around the base of the main spines and hug the body of the cactus. Yellow flowers form a ring around the top of the stem.

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. Barrels are generally uncommon cactus of rocky hillsides, but they can be locally abundant.

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: Main spines are long, stout, flattened, curving, and reddish. Radial spines (smaller spines around the base of the main spines) present.

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.

Comments:

Barrel Cactus sometimes grow in clumps like Cottontop Cactus, and without careful inspection, even experts can misidentify them.

Cottontop Cactus can be identified by the presence of wool on the top of the plant and on the fruits, while California Barrel Cactus does not have wool. Furthermore, the flowers and fruits of Cottontop Cactus emerge from the tips of the stems, while those of California Barrel Cactus form a broad ring around the top of the stem. In addition, California Barrel Cactus has radial spines (smaller spines around the base of the main spines), while Cottontop Cactus do not.