Large cylindrical cacti with prominent ribs and thorns. Yellow flowers in spring followed by small rounded to oblong yellow fruits. Introduced into cultivation from Mexico, the golden barrel cactus is distinguished by a large round or barrel shape that is covered with menacing spikes with a tuft of yellow hair on top.
Echinocactus is derived from the Greek word, echinos, meaning hedgehog.
Unfortunately, the golden barrel cactus has been over-collected to the point of endangering their survival in the wild.