Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0
About
The golden barrel cactus, *Kroenleinia grusonii*, is a highly popular and architectural barrel cactus known for its large, spherical growth habit and striking yellow-to-white spines. It is a hardy species that thrives in cultivation and is frequently featured in desert and rock gardens worldwide.
Field notes
Morphology
Mature plants are large, roughly spherical-globular, and can reach over 1 meter in height with a diameter of 40 to 80 centimeters. The plant has 21–35 pronounced ribs, and the areoles transition from yellow and woolly when young to whitish, and finally, greyish. Spines are large, straight or slightly recurved, ranging in color from yellow to white or beige. Radial spines number between 8 and 10 and measure more than 3 cm, while the central spines number between 3 and 5 and measure about 5 cm.
Distribution & habitat
Native to the Mexican states of Querétaro and Hidalgo, particularly near Mesa de León. It is found growing at altitudes as high as 1,400 metres above sea level.
Cultivation notes
It is considered one of the easiest cacti to care for and is relatively fast-growing in warmer climates. It requires good drainage and an average minimum winter temperature of 12 °C (54 °F), though it can tolerate brief periods of lower temperatures. It thrives in well-aerated, rich, volcanic soil on sunny slopes.
History & etymology
The species was first described by German plantsman Heinrich Hildmann in 1891, and was named for German industrialist and cacti-collector Hermann Gruson. It was originally placed in the genus *Echinocactus* but was later moved to its own genus, *Kroenleinia grusonii*.
Conservation
The species is rare and endangered—potentially regionally extinct—in nature due to poaching and habitat damage from human development.
Habitat
- Altitude
- —
- Altitude Class
- —
- Native To
- Mexico
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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