BARREL CACTUS

The aptly named golden barrel cactus or golden ball (Echinocactus grusonii) rarely grows in its native habitat. It is sometimes used in the outdoor garden in dry climates where temperatures never fall below 4 degrees Celsius. It’s called a barrel cactus because, as the name implies, they are almost perfectly round when juvenile. They are beautiful, with evenly spaced rows of spines on their deeply ribbed lobes. As they grow, it’s not uncommon for them to stretch out, so they are more oval than circular.