Cactus · Sonoran native
Fishhook Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus wislizeni · Cactaceae
Also called: Arizona Barrel Cactus, Candy Barrel Cactus, Southwestern Barrel Cactus, Compass Barrel (sometimes, due to southward lean)
Fishhook Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus wislizeni) is a very low-water cactus native to the Sonoran Desert region well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It grows to 2-4 ft H (eventually to 6+ ft) x 18-30 in W in full sun, with a slow growth rate. Expect orange to red, also yellow forms blooms late summer to fall.
Fishhook Barrel Cactus at a glance
- Water use
- Very Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun
- Mature size
- 2-4 ft H (eventually to 6+ ft) x 18-30 in W
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Bloom
- Orange to red, also yellow forms, Late summer to fall (July-October), following monsoon rains
- Cold hardiness
- Hardy to about 10-15 F; USDA zones 8b-11
- Soil
- Well-drained rocky, gravelly, or sandy desert soils; tolerates slopes and bajadas. Needs good drainage.
- Native range
- Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts of southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, west Texas, and northern Mexico
- Best used as
- Accent/specimen, Wildlife garden, Native/desert and revegetation landscapes, Rock gardens
- Wildlife
- Late-season flowers and abundant yellow fruit are an important food source for birds, javelina, deer, rodents, and reptiles; flowers attract native bees and cactus beetles.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic; spines (including the stout, hooked central spine) cause mechanical injury. Fruit is edible to wildlife and historically used by people.
How to grow Fishhook Barrel Cactus in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
No supplemental water needed once established; native rainfall is sufficient. Water young transplants deeply but infrequently in the warm season and keep dry in winter to prevent rot.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Not required; thrives in lean native soils. Avoid fertilizing.
Pruning & care
None; remove only dead or rotted tissue.
Notes
Named for its stout, flattened, hooked ('fishhook') central spines. Older plants often lean toward the south/southwest, contributing to the 'compass barrel' nickname. One of the most common native barrels around Tucson. Produces persistent yellow, pineapple-shaped fruit at the crown.
Sources: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; AMWUA 'Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert'; Saguaro National Park / Tohono Chul references