Ferocactus emoryi

RHS Plant Profile
Emory's barrel cactus

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Emory's barrel cactus RHS

Other common names

Coville's barrel cactus, traveler's friend

Cactus Succulent
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A bluish-green barrel cactus, globular at first, becoming cylindrical, and capable of reaching 2m after many years. Young plants have a regular arrangement of conical tubercles tipped with 6 to 10 long, curved, red or light brown spines. Older plants develop 15 to 30 deep ribs. Red, yellow or pale orange, funnel-shaped flowers up to 7.5cm across appear in summer, followed by yellow, egg-shaped fruit

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
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)
H2

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Cactaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Ferocactus are spherical to columnar cacti with prominent ribs bearing spiny areoles, the spines sometimes hooked, and funnel-shaped flowers in summer
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in a peat-free, loam-based potting compost with added grit. Water moderately when in growth, not at all when dormant. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser two or three times in the growing season. See houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Houseplants
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free