Golden Barrel Cactus

     Also known as the Mother-in-Law's Cushion and the Golden Ball, Echinocactus grusonii is in the Cactaceae family. It grows roughly 2 ft. tall and and roughly 2-3 feet wide. The overall shape is round, yellow to white needles extending out from the ridges on the vertical ribs of the cactus. At the top, known as the crown, is where the flowers emerge. These flowers are covered in a substance that is very wool like.               

The life span of the golden barrel runs roughly 30 years. During its life span, the flowers will bloom from the late spring to the summer. Their color is a bright yellow and have a diameter of 2 inches. They are usually found under the wooly material on the crown at the top. The fruits form beneath the flowers and can be gathered when the flowers are fully dried. When the fruit is opened up, the seeds are a deep brown in color.  

     The golden barrel cactus is native with a range spanning from central Mexico to the American Southwest. It has evolved to grow and thrive in harsh, dry, and sunny climates and can exist in long term droughts.