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    AGM plants have been through a rigorous trial and assessment programme. They are:

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Echinocactus grusonii

golden barrel cactus

AGM plants

AGM plants have been through a rigorous trial and assessment programme. They are:

  • Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions
  • Available to buy
  • Of good constitution
  • Essentially stable in form & colour
  • Reasonably resistant to pests & diseases
golden barrel cactus

© RHS 2003

RHS Plant Shop from £9.99

  • Other common names golden barrel cactus
    mother-in-law's seat

    golden ball cactus

    see more

  • Family Cactaceae

  • Genus Echinocactus are slow-growing cacti with barrel-shaped or columnar, deeply ribbed stems bearing strong spines, and bell-shaped flowers in summer

  • Details E. grusonii forms a barrel-shaped stem to 50cm in height, with deep ribs bearing yellowish spines and, on mature plants, yellow flowers to 6cm in length

  • Plant range Mexico

Characteristics

  • Foliage Evergreen

  • Habit Columnar/Upright

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H1C

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Aspect South-facing or West-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Sand

    Sand

  • Loam

    Loam

  • MoistureWell-drained

  • SoilSand, Loam

  • pHAcid, Neutral, Alkaline

Size

  • Ultimate height 0.1-0.5 metres

  • Ultimate spread 0.5-1 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 10-20 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow under glass in a loam-based potting compost with added extra grit. Water moderately when in growth, not at all when dormant. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser 2 or 3 times in the growing season. Can mark on the surface if the environment is too humid

Propagation Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types Drought Resistant

How to care

Pruning No pruning required

Pests mealybugs can be a problem

Diseases Generally disease free

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Echinocactus grusonii

golden barrel cactus

Buy from £9.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £9.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

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