Origin and Habitat: California

• Ferocactus х californicus (Monv.) Borg
• Echinocactus californicus Monv.

Description: Small barrel cactus, usually solitary..
Stem: Spherical, green to pale bluish with a yellowish woolly depressed apex, 21 cm tall and 30 cm in diameter, as it ages it will become cylindrical an can reach 1m in height and 35 cm in diameter
Ribs: 15 to 21, sharp and with deep furrows about 3 cm highly
Areoles: The areoles are upward elonged with a short white felt covers; they stand on protruding bump on the ribs.
Spines: About 8, of which one central upright and very strong, basally enlarged, abaxilly flatted +/- hooked. The colour is purplish at the base and reddish yellow on the tips. Other 5 spines less strong of same colour and slightly curved at the point, are regularly arranged with the smallest of which at the base of the areole; there are also two very thin whitish lateral spine and an upper rudimentary aciculate spine thinner and shorter.
Flowers: 5 cm long 6 cm in diameter, yellow-orange to brick–red with darker midline, they come from the wooly apex of the plants.
Blooming season: Between at the end of July and beginning of September.

Cultivation and Propagation: Prefers full sun. Avoid frost.
Propagation: Seeds are the only way of reproducing.