Species · genus Ferocactus · Cactaceae

Twisted Barrel Cactus

Ferocactus herrerae J.G.Ortega

Also known as: Herrera's Barrel Cactus

Growth habit

succulent subshrub

Native range

Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest

Reference · F. herrerae

Cultivars of F. herrerae

The named forms growers keep — each with its own page, each honest about how much we know.

No named cultivars catalogued under F. herrerae yet. When growers document a stable, named form, it earns its own page here.

Guide

The species-level account. Cultivar pages build on this and say where they differ.

Ferocactus herrerae is a barrel-forming succulent cactus from arid northern Mexico, built to store water in its ribbed body and endure long dry spells. Give it the brightest spot you have, ideally several hours of direct sun, and a gritty, fast-draining mineral mix. Water deeply only once the soil has gone completely dry to the bottom of the pot, then let it dry out fully again; when in doubt, wait longer.

Care recipe

The species record — the baseline every cultivar inherits unless it says otherwise.

Care notes are early — not yet verified

Light: ai:claude-opus-4-8
Water: ai:claude-opus-4-8 (range 14-30d)
Humidity: ai:claude-opus-4-8
Soil: ai:claude-fable-5
Care: ai:claude-fable-5

Light

Direct sun

Water

≈ every 30 days

Humidity

Low — average room

Temperature

10–32 °C

Soil mix

Gritty, fast-draining cactus mix with extra pumice

Propagation

From seed; offsets are rare

Fertilizing

Dilute cactus feed once or twice in spring and summer

Growth rate

Slow

Flowering

Yellow blooms possible on mature plants in strong light

ToxicityAuthoritative · species

Not yet documented

This is where toxicity lives — every cultivar of this species inherits it and none can override it.

Reference images

Every image credited. Licenses link to their deeds.

No reference gallery yet

A few clear photos — habit, a mature leaf, a flower if it blooms — would give this page its eyes.

Add images

Sources: ai:claude-opus-4-8 · ai:claude-opus-4-8 (range 14-30d) · ai:claude-fable-5

Kept true by its growers

Every fact here carries its source. Grow Twisted Barrel Cactus yourself? What you’ve observed — how it drinks, how it holds its color, a name that’s off — is exactly what keeps this page honest. Contributions are reviewed before anything changes.