Ferocactus gracilis – Fire Barrel Cactus

Ferocactus gracilis (Fire Barrel Cactus) is a beautiful barrel cactus with red spikes and flowers. It is native to the state of Baja California in Mexico. Fire Barrel Cacti are a large solitary cactus with a ribbed barrel and can grow to around 3 metres (10 feet) tall. They are easy to grow from seed and can be positioned indoors or out. This particular species is known for its stunning red flowers that bloom throughout spring and summer. Fire Barrel Cactus is suitable for temperate, sub tropical and tropical climates.   Growth Ferocactus gracilis is a slow-growing cactus that can reach heights of up to 3 metres (10 feet). It enjoys warm and hot climates but can tolerate cold freezes down to -5°C / 23°F. They grow in a spherical shape and are covered with uniform red spikes that reach up to 7 cm (3 inches) long. During the warmer months During the summer it is better to keep the plants outside where they thrive on temperatures over 40°C / 104°F. Fire Barrel Cactis are one of the slower cacti to grow but can still produce red flowers in under five years. If growing in cooler climates, keep in mind that cacti don’t need water while they are dormant during winter, and can rot if the soil is too moist. The trickiest part if growing them outdoors is keeping the soil fairly dry during cold wet periods. It is best to keep them in containers until they are a couple of years old and well established before planting them outdoors. Raised beds or rockeries where the soil can drain easily are beneficial. Of course you can keep them indoors or in pots outdoors, so that you can move them to a protected area in winter.   FAMILY: Cactaceae CLIMATE: Temperate, Mediterranean, Sub-Tropical, Tropical TEMPERATURE RANGE: 7 to 40°C / 45 to 104°F SOIL TYPE: Soil MUST be well draining. LOCATION: Full Sun HEIGHT: Up to 3 metres (10 feet) WIDTH: Up to 50 cm metres (2 feet) pH: 6.0-7.0 GROWTH TYPE: Perennial WATER REQUIREMENTS: Light POLLINATION: Bees MATURITY: 4-5 years GERMINATION RATES: 70-85% GERMINATION TIME: 1-3 weeks SEEDS PER GRAM: Approximately 500 MEDICINAL QUALITIES: No WEED POTENTIAL: No FACTS ABOUT FEROCACTUS GRACILIS (Fire Barrel Cactus)   Ferocactus gracilis was discovered by Howard Gates in 1928 who later named the plant in 1933.