All the information and photos in cactus art file are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.

Sometimes referred to as F. orcuttii , this  barrel cactus blooms when still of relatively small size.
 

Propagation: Seeds are the only way of reproducing.

Seed Collecting: Permit fruit to ripen.  Fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds.

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Scientific name: Ferocactus viridiscesns (Torrey & A. Gray) Britton & Rose var. viridescens

Common Name: San Diego Barrel Cactus

Synonyms:

• Echinocactus viridiscens
• Echinocactus orcutti Britton et Rose 1913
• Ferocactus orcuttii
• Ferocactus viridescens var. orcuttii

Origin:  USA, (Southern California in the Coastal San Diego County), Mexico (northern Baja California)

Habitat:  It can be found in rocky coastal bluffs, coastal chaparral; shrub hillsides 0-200 m; often at the crest of slopes and growing in cobbles. It occasionally is found on the periphery of vernal pools, sometimes in considerable numbers. This presumably more mesic habitat is unlike the very xeric situations where it is typically found. This barrel cactus utilizes a number of other soil types such as rocky silt loams and Redding gravelly loams.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

The 'viridescens' variety has 13-25 tuberculate ribs and 15-25 spines per areole.
The 'littoralis' variety has 21-34 ribs that aren't tuberculate. It has 21-34 spines per areole. It is indigenous only along the west coast of Baja california down to Mission Santo Domingo.

Taxonomic notes: Ferocactus viridescens var. viridescens stems are much shorter than those of F. cylindraceus but the taxonomic distinctions between the two species are muddled. In California, Ferocactus viridescens and F. cylindraceus are allopatric. In the absence of geographic data, the largest plants of F. viridescens might not always be distinguishable from straight-spined mature plants of F. cylindraceus. Immature plants of F. cylindraceus have mostly or entirely hooked spines but gradually switch to producing straighter spines in old age.
 

Description:  Solitary, sometimes wider than tall.
Stems: Pale green Erect, oblate to spheric (to short cylindric), usually 10-30(-45)cm tall × 10-20(-35) cm in diameter;
Ribs: 13-21[-34], 2 cm tall shallowly notched immediately above each areole.
Areoles: Oval 10x 15mm with brownish tomentum.
Spines: 10-19 per areole, central spines and larger radial spines pink or yellowish, turning grey as they age, smallest spines per areole slender, sometimes bristle-like, less than 1 mm diam. (rarely absent); central spines 4 per areole, the lower one stronger, straight or slightly curved, annulate, thin and flattened, narrowly elliptic in cross section, principal central spine 30-50 × 2-3(-5) mm. As younger plant does have colourful spines.
Flowers: Infundibuliform 2.5-5 × 3-6 cm, colour similar inside and out; inner tepals greenish yellow, sometimes with reddish brown midstripes; stigma lobes yellow.
Fruits: Dehiscent through basal pore, bright yellow (very rarely reddish), 20-35 × 15-25 mm, leathery or fleshy
Blooming season: pring-early summer.
 

Cultivation: They are summer-growing and pretty easy plants thought slow to start. They are suited for any rich, well drained soil  such us clay, pumice, lava grit, and only a little peat or leaf-mould. If potted, repot them preferably in the spring, if their roots become cramped.  Generally, they should be repotted every other year in order to provide fresh soil. However, this doesn't necessarily mean they'll need larger containers. Fill about a quarter of the pot with broken crocks, gravel, etc. to promote good drainage. After repotting, do not water for a week or more. Water regularly during the aestival growth cycle (this plant need plenty of water, but do not overwater and let their soil dry out between waterings), and also needs to be avoided wetting the body of this plant while it is in sunlight. A wet cactus in the sun light can cause sun burning which can lead to scares or even fungal infections and death, keep rather dry in winter. No water should ever be allowed to stand around the roots. Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Exposure: Outside they need a bright exposure, full sun or half shade in summer if the location is exceedingly hot or bright, inside needs bright light, and some direct sun. It can tolerate moderate shade, and a plant that has been growing in shade should be slowly hardened off before placing it in full sun as the plant will be severely scorched if moved too suddenly from shade into sun.
Frost Tolerance: Light frost protection required for safe cultivation, but can tolerate sporadic light frost. This plants need a period of cool rest in winter to produce flowers abundantly.
Diseases and pests: Watch for infestations of mealybug, scale insects and spider mite.
Plant in good conditions will start to  bloom when reach the diameter of only 12-14 cm.

All the information and photos in cactus art file are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.