# Fishhook Barrel Cactus (*ferocactus wislizeni*) The Fishhook Barrel Cactus is a spiky plant that can grow tall and round like a barrel! Its hooks keep animals from getting too close, making it a tough survivor in the desert! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Deserts and arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. - **Also known as:** Barrel Cactus, Fishhook Cactus, Golden Cactus ![Fishhook Barrel Cactus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ferocactus_wislizeni_24.jpeg&width=800) Photo: Ken Kneidel, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ferocactus_wislizeni_24.jpeg) ## Appearance The Fishhook Barrel Cactus is a large, ribbed, barrel-shaped cactus, often leaning south. It has dense, prominent, reddish-to-yellow hooked spines and blooms with yellow, orange, or red cup-shaped flowers. Its yellow fruits are also distinctive. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Cactaceae - **Genus:** Ferocactus ## Interesting facts - It can live for over 100 years, making some cacti older than your grandparents! - Its accordion-like ribs let it expand and shrink, holding extra water after rains. - Many small desert animals use its dense spines for shade and protection from predators. - Native Americans have historically eaten its tart fruit and inner pulp as food. ## Special abilities - **Water Vault:** Fishhook Barrel Cactus can store huge amounts of water in its fleshy stem to survive long, dry desert periods. - **Hooked Shield:** It has long, sharp, hooked spines that deter animals from eating its valuable water-filled body. - **Desert Compass:** Some barrel cacti can slowly grow to lean southward, acting like a natural compass for desert explorers. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-200 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 4-7 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late summer to early fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Collared Peccary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collared-peccary) (*Pecari tajacu*) — Consumes its fruit and juicy pulp. - **Eats:** [Gambel's Quail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gambels-quail) (*Callipepla gambelii*) — Eats seeds from its ripened yellow fruits. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits its bright flowers to collect nectar. - **Eats:** [Gila Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gila-woodpecker) (*Melanerpes uropygialis*) — Feeds on its ripe yellow fruits. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be careful not to touch the spines! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Fishhook Barrel Cactus? Compare leaf arrangement, rosette shape, ribs, spines and flowers. Keep in mind that drought and strong sun can shift a plant's color and shape. Succulent Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Fishhook Barrel Cactus? 30-200 cm ### How wide does Fishhook Barrel Cactus spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Fishhook Barrel Cactus? 4-7 cm ### When does Fishhook Barrel Cactus bloom? Late summer to early fall ### Is Fishhook Barrel Cactus edible? Yes ### Is Fishhook Barrel Cactus toxic? None ### What is Fishhook Barrel Cactus's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Mesa Grande](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesa-grande) — Arizona, US · Historic Site - [DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/degrazia-gallery-in-the-sun-historic-district) — Arizona, US · Historic District - [Kentucky Camp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kentucky-camp) — Arizona, US · Historic Site - [Mesilla Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesilla-park-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/organ-mountains-desert-peaks-national-monument) — New Mexico, US · National Park [View all places to see Fishhook Barrel Cactus](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/fishhook-barrel-cactus) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Fishhook Barrel Cactus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fishhook-barrel-cactus)