Origin and Habitat: Ferocactus pilosusSN|13428]]SN|13424]] (Ferocactus stainesiiSN|13424]]SN|13428]]) is endemic to Mexico, where it occurs in the states of Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas. It occurs throughout much of the northern portion of the Mexican Altiplano and therefore is somewhat variable. This species is common. The estimated population size is more than 1,000,000 plants.
Habitat: This species is found in semi-desert on various soil types, but most often on rocky limestone hillsides. It is threatened by illegal collection of individuals from wild subpopulations. Removal of floral buds for human consumption could be affecting the populations.

• Ferocactus pilosus (Galeotti ex Salm-Dyck) Werderm.
• Echinocactus piliferus Lem. ex Ehrenb.
• Echinocactus pilosus Galeotti in Salm-Dyck
• Ferocactus piliferus (Lem. ex Ehrenb.) G.Unger
• Ferocactus stainesii var. pilosus (Galeotti ex Salm-Dyck) Backeb.

• Ferocactus pilosus (Galeotti ex Salm-Dyck) Werderm.
• Echinocactus piliferus Lem. ex Ehrenb.
• Echinocactus pilosus Galeotti in Salm-Dyck
• Ferocactus piliferus (Lem. ex Ehrenb.) G.Unger
• Ferocactus stainesii var. pilosus (Galeotti ex Salm-Dyck) Backeb.
• Ferocactus piliferus f. flavispinus (hort. ex Schelle) G.Unger
• Echinocactus pilosus var. flavispinus hort. ex Schelle
• Ferocactus pilosus var. flavispinus hort.
• Ferocactus pringlei (J.M.Coult.) Britton & Rose
• Echinocactus pilosus var. pringlei J.M.Coult.
• Echinocactus pringlei J.M.Coult.
• Ferocactus stainesii var. pringlei (J.M.Coult.) Backeb.
• Ferocactus stainesii (Salm-Dyck) Britton & Rose
• Echinocactus pilosus var. stainesii Salm-Dyck
• Echinocactus pilosus f. stainesii (Salm-Dyck) Voss in Vilm.
• Echinocactus stainesii Hook. ex Salm-Dyck
• Ferocactus piliferus var. stainesii (Salm-Dyck) G.Unger
• Ferocactus stainesii f. albispinum hort.

Description: Ferocactus pilosusSN|13424]]SN|13424]] is a simple or clumping barrel/column cactus with thick red spines. In habitat plants must be a great age, often forming into quite massive groups, with several subsidiary barrels growing from the main one, with deep green bodies densely covered with bright red spines up its entire length. Most plants have bright red spines with bristle-like, white radials—a wonderful contrast, but in some populations the white bristles are occasionally absent. Such variation has led to establishment of several names for this species.
Stem: Columnar deep green up to 2,4(-3) m tall and 30 to 40 cm in diameter, with several subsidiary barrels growing from the main one.
Ribs: 13-20, compressed, more or less undulate.
Areoles: Distant to closely set and almost contiguous in older specimens, circular.
Radial spines: Sometime absent or usually reduced to long white or straw coloured hairs on the areoles that appears later with age.
Central spines: Several, subulate-acicular, stright or slightly curved, more or less flattened and angular at first bright red/purplish becoming dull yellow with age, but some populations also boast yellow-spined individuals, and the white bristles are occasionally absent.
Flowers: Yellow to red, about 2,5 cm long, scales on the ovary numerous, orbicular, imbricated, inner perianth segment oblanceolate, obtuse or apiculate.
Fruits: Yellow, somewhat succulent, dehishing by basal pore, 3 to 4 cm long, crowned by persisting perianth.
Seeds:1,5 mm long, brownish, pitted with a small basal hilum.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family.” Volume 4, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923
5) Fitz Maurice, B & Fitz Maurice, W.A. 2013. "Ferocactus pilosus." The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 15 December 2014.
6) George Edmund Lindsay, J. Hugo Cota “The taxonomy and ecology of the genus Ferocactus: explorations in the USA and Mexico” Tireless Termites Press, 1996
7) Keith Grantham, Paul Klaassen “The plantfinder's guide to cacti & other succulents” Timber Press, 18 May 1999

Cultivation and Propagation: Ferocactus pilosusSN|13424]]SN|13424]] is one of the more common ferocacti in cultivation and quite resistant to cultivation. The only things that can kill this plant are cold and overwaterin. Nevertheless, it is appropriate to provide adequate growing conditions in order to obtain compact plant with dense spine cove.
Growth rate: Slow growing to start but does well under cultivation. They need to be moderately large (about 20 cm in diameter) before they flower.
Soils: Use a an open and free draining mineral compost with little organic matter (peat, humus) that allows therefore roots to breath (as it is rot prone).
Repotting: Repot every 2-3 years.
Watering: It likes a winter's rest and should be kept completely dry during the winter months. From early spring onwards the plant will begin to grow and watering should be increased gradually until late spring when the plant should be in full growth. Water regularly during the aestival growth cycle so long as the plant pot is allowed to drain and not sit in a tray of water (this plant need plenty of water) But needs to be avoided wetting the bodies of these plants while they are in sunlight. A wet cactus in the sun light can cause sun burning which can lead to scars or even fungal infections and death. From late summer watering should be reduced to force the plant to go in to a state of semi dormancy, by autumn you should be back in to the winter watering regime. Keep dry with ample airflow in winter (but for outdoors cultivation it is somewat resistant to wet conditions, too if grown in very draining subtrata). In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! Care must be taken with watering as they tends to become swollen and untidy in growth habit if given too much water and shade.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Hardiness: Keep dry at 5- 10° C in winter, but can tolerate sporadic light frost if kept on the dry side prior to, and during, cold weather.
Exposition: The plant tolerates very bright situations, if kept too dark they may become overly lush and greener and could be prone to rotting due to over watering. Strong light encourages flowering and heavy wool and spine production, but is likely to suffer from sun scorch or stunted growth if over exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day in summer. .
Uses: It is an excellent plant for container growing. But it is a very appreciated accent used to adds character to monotonous surroundings with little effort. Frequently planted close to the yellow spined Echinocactus grusoniiSN|3345]]SN|3345]].
Edible uses: Floral buds are collected for human consumption. The Mexicans eat it's flowers as a dessert fried with the frying pan with sugar.
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Red spiders may be effectively rubbed up by watering the plants from above.
- Mealy bugs: Mealy bugs occasionally develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales: Scales are rarely a problem.
- Rot: This species is particularly easy and accommodating, seldom suffer of cryptogamic diseases. Rot it is only a minor problem with cacti if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much.
Propagation: Seeds are the only way of reproducing. Seeds (no dormancy requirement) germinate in 7-14 days at 21-27° C in spring), remove gradually the glass cover as soon the plants will be well rooted (ca 1-2 weeks) and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants! The seedlings should not be disturbed until they are well rooted, after which they can be planted separately in small pots.