Golden Barrel Cactus Closeup cover photo - 98745077

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Barrel cactus are various members of the two genera Echinocactus and Ferocactus, found in the deserts of Southwestern North America. Some species of Barrel cactus easily reach over 1 metre 3.3 ft in height at maturity, and have been known to reach 3 metres 9.8 ft in some regions. The ribs are numerous and pronounced, and the spines are long and can range in color from yellow to tan to red, depending on the age of the plant and the species. Flowers appear at the top of the plant only after many years. â€œâ€â€ the barrel cactus can live to be over 100 years oldâ€â€â€ Barrel cactus buds typically start to bloom in April with a bright yellow or orange flower. Pink and red varieties also exist but occur less frequently. The flowers only appear on the very top of the plant. As the flowers begin to wilt in early May, they may change color. A late summer desert rainstorm can produce a late bloomer as shown in the photo of the orange flowered variety it bloomed two days after a rain storm in mid August and then continued to bloom right through the end of September. One should approach a barrel cactus with extreme caution. A puncture to human skin from one of the spines is considered a dirty wound. If the puncture is deep enough to draw blood, antibiotics may be needed; and could take up to several months for the wound to heal properly. Barrel cactus plants are one of the more dangerous cacti to humans in the desert.