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  Ferocactus chrysacanthus CACTUS ART
NURSERY

Cultivation and Mail Sale
of Cacti and Succulents.


This is a somewhat slow-growing species. The plant pictured above is about 18 years old and about 22cm in diameter, although it has been flowering for several years.  Because of its beautiful golden spines and its small stature, F. chrysacanthus makes a great collector's plant.
 

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F. chrysacanthus "Red spines" (hybrid)


The fruits are bright yellow

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Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Scientific name: Ferocactus chrysacanthus (Orcutt) Britton & Rose
In: The Cactaceae; descriptions and illustrations of plants of the cactus family 3: 127, 1922

Taxon synonyms

  • Echinocactus chrysacanthus
  • Ferocactus chrysacanthus ssp. chrysacanthus Ferocactus chrysacanthus ssp. grandiflorus (G.E. Lindsay) N.P. Taylor
    In: Cactaceae Consensus Initiatives 6: 15, 1998
  • Echinocactus emoryi var. chrysacanthus
  • Ferocactus fordii var. grandiflorus

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Origin:
Mexico (Baja California: Only occurs naturally on the island of Cedros, off the west coast of northern Baja California and possibly on a neighboring island, West San Benitos, with some reports of it on the adjacent peninsula.)

Habitat: with a balanced and relatively high average temperature, low rainfall but relatively high humidity and specific soil composition (these conditions are difficult to imitate in cultivation, and make this species relatively problematic to grow.

Cultivation: It is often  recommended to graft young seedlings on Eriocereus jusbertii. But plants can grow on their own roots for ages if watered carefully.


Description:
Solitary barrel cactus. The plant is very densely spined (one of the spiniest of the Ferocacti) and because of that, will tolerate full sun.
Stem: Globose to cylindrical, dark green.
up to 30cm in diameter, 90 cm tall.
Ribs: 13 to 22 ribs
Central spines: 4 to 10 all thick, twisted and more or less hooked golden yellow (it sometimes occurs with red spines)
Radial spines: 4 to 6, white.
Flowers: They are typically yellow or brownish yellow, but also orange, 2.5 cm long, 5 cm in diameter. The inside petals are yellow or orange, the outside ones are brownish.
Blooming season: Summer.
Fruit: Yellow.

The subspecies 'chrysacanthus' has yellow or yellow-orange flowers.
The subspecies 'grandiflorus' has red or red-orange flowers.
 

 



The species name "chrysacanthus" comes from the Greek for "with golden spines"  but sometimes occurs with red spines The plant is very densely spined and because of that, will tolerate full sun
 



A rare red spined specimen (hybrid).
 

Cultivation:  Use very draining soil, water during the aestival growth cycle (this plant need plenty of water) But it's necessary  to avoid wetting the bodies of these plants while they are in sunlight. A wet cactus in the sun light can cause sun burning which can lead to scars or even fungal infections and death. Needs full sun. Keep dry at 10°C in winter, but it can tolerate sporadic light frost.

Propagation: Seeds are the only way of reproducing. The seeds germinate readily.


Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Ferocactus chrysacanthus:

Home | E-mail | Plant files | Mail Sale Catalogue | Links | Information | Search

All the information and photos in cactus art file are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.