Ferocactus cylindraceus

California barrel cactus, California Barrel Cactus

Family: Cactaceae · Type: perennial · Native

California barrel cactus is a native perennial found in eastern Peninsular Range and desert regions, especially eastern Mojave Desert and western Sonoran Desert, in gravelly, rocky, and sandy areas at elevations of 60 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to May, this distinctive cactus produces yellow to orange flowers with inner perianth occasionally orange to red. Growing with a columnar stem taller than wide, it features 10 to 32 dramatic spines that are initially red and turn gray with age, with the longest spines often curved or hooked. Its robust structure includes impressive spines that are erect and spreading, with some recurved to nearly hooked, creating a striking silhouette in arid landscapes. The fruit is yellow, adding another layer of visual interest to this resilient desert species.

Habitat: Gravelly, rocky, or sandy areas

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: 60-1500 m

Bioregions: e PR, D (esp e DMoj, w DSon)

California counties: San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo, Imperial

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.