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Cotton-Top Barrel, Cottontop Cactus, Many-Headed Barrel Cactus
Echinocactus polycephalus
This cactus is widely spread throughout the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. The plant gets its common name from the woolly hairs that develop on the crown and around the seed pods. Birds use the wool to build their nests, thus dispersing the seeds throughout. This barrel cactus grows in spreading clumps, sometimes of more than 100 heads although 20 to 40 are more common. Spherical cactus with spines that turn red when wet from rain.
- Plant type: Cactus, Native
- Maintenance level: Low
- Water requirement: Low
- Sun exposure: Full
- Height range: 1–3 Feet
- Width range: 2–4 Feet
- Canopy value: 7 ft²
- Growth rate: Slow
- Seasonal habit: Evergreen
- Flower color: Yellow
- Flower season: Summer
- Fruit color: Brown
- Fruit season: Summer
- Design style: Thorns/Spines
- Hardiness cold tolerance: 10 °F
- Soil preference: Sand, Rocky, Well Drained, Dry
- Native location: USA, Mohave and Sonoran deserts
- PH preference: Alkaline/Basic
- Sunset zones: 10, 11, 12, 13
- USDA hardiness zone: 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a
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