Ferocactus stainesii - Mexican fire barrel cactus

Ferocactus stainesii is a spherical then columnar cactus native to Mexico, with an imposing stature and spectacular red thorns. It can grow several metres tall in the ground but remains more compact in a pot. Its dark green, ribbed body is adorned with strong, curved thorns. This species is easy to grow in full sun and perfectly drained soil, but the plant remains sensitive to cold. Outside the Mediterranean coast, it is best grown in a pot on a terrace or balcony and should be sheltered in winter.

Ferocactus stainesii belongs to the Cactaceae family. Native to northern Mexico, this species is found in the states of Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas, where it thrives on semi-desert limestone hills. This cactus is globular at first, then more columnar and can reach 2 m in height and 30 to 40 cm in diameter at maturity after many years. Grown in a large pot, it will remain more compact and rarely exceed 1 m in height. The typical Ferocactus stainesii has between 13 and 20 compressed, often wavy ribs, with closely spaced circular areoles. The curved central thorns, initially bright red or purple, turn yellowish with age, while the radial thorns are white and more or less covered with hairs. Summer flowering produces orange flowers about 2.5 cm long. If fruits form, they are yellow, 3 to 4 cm long. The root system is shallow, adapted to arid conditions. Historically, some local populations consumed the flower buds of this species, which could affect natural populations.Ferocactus stainesii flowers quite easily outdoors if planted in full sun in well-drained soil and kept fairly dry in winter. Indoors, place it in a cool room near a south-facing window in winter and reduce watering to respect its dormancy period. A temperature difference between day and night stimulates flowering, as does slight water stress in spring before resuming watering.

Ferocactus stainesii is much better suited to outdoor cultivation in a Mediterranean climate that is not too cold in winter. It can also be grown in a pot that is wider than deep. It is majestic and casts its fierce and bold shadow on rocky soil. This cactus has its place in a desert scene, alongside Yucca gloriosa 'Variegata' and Aloe spinosissima, for example. It will make a striking statement in a wide terracotta pot, near a Cereus forbesii 'Spiralis', whose twisted columns enhance its architectural habit. This variety creates a scene where the desert becomes art.