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Compass Barrel Cactus, Fire Barrel
Ferocactus cylindraceus
Little water in a moderately rich, well drained soil. Ferocacti die easily with too much water or not enough sun. Extremely slow growing, a plant 4 feet tall may be over 100 years old. The Compass Barrel Cactus grows slanted in the direction of the south. This is due to the fact that the northern side in the cactus, somewhat protected from the sun grows faster than the south side. Will rot if overwatered. The different varieties are distinguished by the shape and color of the spines, although the spine color can vary widely within the same population. Spines turn bright red when exposed to rainfall, hence the common name of 'Fire Barrel'. Synonym: Ferocactus acanthodes.
- Plant type: Cactus, Native
- Maintenance level: Low
- Water requirement: Low
- Sun exposure: Full
- Height range: 4–8 Feet
- Width range: 1–2 Feet
- Growth rate: Slow
- Seasonal habit: Evergreen
- Flower color: Orange, Yellow
- Flower season: Spring, Summer
- Fruit color: Yellow
- Fruit season: Summer
- Design style: Thorns/Spines, Mojave Accents
- Hardiness cold tolerance: 20 °F
- Soil preference: Sand, Rocky, Well Drained, Dry
- Canopy value: 3 ft²
- Native location: Southwest USA, northern Mexico
- PH preference: Alkaline/Basic
- Sunset zones: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
- USDA hardiness zone: 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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