Bloomipedia
Fishhook barrel cactus (Ferocactus wislizeni)
Photo: Cecelia Alexander via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Fishhook barrel cactus

Ferocactus wislizeni

Fishhook barrel cactus (Ferocactus wislizeni) is a shrub or small tree in the Cactaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–September across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Fishhook barrel cactus is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in July–September.

3states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
23,887U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Arizona, New Mexico

Quick look

Ferocactus wislizeni, the fishhook barrel cactus, also called Arizona barrel cactus, candy barrel cactus, and Southwestern barrel cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae, native to northern Mexico and the southern United States. It is a ball-shaped cactus eventually growing to a cylindrical shape, with spiny ribs and red or yellow flowers in summer.

  • It belongs to the Cactaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 3 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Arizona and New Mexico. NatureServe
  • In Arizona, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in August–September. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as orange. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 11 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 20,161 research-grade sightings of it in Arizona, ranking #3 among the 132 flowers on our Arizona list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,778 research-grade sightings of it in New Mexico, ranking #10 among the 152 flowers on our New Mexico list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (419 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ArizonaNativeAugust–September20,161
New MexicoNativefew records (36)2,778

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
Arizona
Not listed Not on Arizona Native Plant Law protected plants (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-3 Art. 11, App. A, eff. Feb. 2, 2025). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Arizona. AAC R3-3 App. A
New Mexico
Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Mexico. 19.21.2.9 NMAC
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: TX (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Arizona. NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records fishhook barrel cactus in 3 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, New Mexico, Texas.

Arizona counties with USDA records: Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yavapai, Yuma.

New Mexico counties with USDA records: Dona Ana, Hidalgo, Lincoln, Luna.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Fishhook barrel cactus a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 7.0 to 8.5 and winter lows down to -23 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
High
Moisture use
Low
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
7.0 to 8.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-23 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
160
Annual precipitation range
9 to 24 inches
Minimum root depth
6 inches
Salinity tolerance
Low
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
Long
Active growth period
Summer
Fruit or seed
Black · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability
Contracting Only

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for FEWI. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Echinocactus wislizeni.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 15 counties across 3 states; the most are in Arizona (10), New Mexico (4), Texas (1).

Other Ferocactus on Bloomipedia (1): California barrel cactus.

More from the Cactaceae family (37 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Saguaro, Beavertail pricklypear, Plains pricklypear, Christmas cholla, Silver cholla, Tree cholla, Buckhorn cholla, Teddybear cholla.

More Arizona flowers

Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea)

Saguaro

Carnegiea gigantea

★ AZ state flowerNative

🌼 Blooms in AZ: April–June
Chain-fruit cholla (Cylindropuntia fulgida)

Chain-fruit cholla

Cylindropuntia fulgida

Native

🌼 Blooms in AZ: May–September
Graham's nipple cactus (Cochemiea grahamii)

Graham's nipple cactus

Cochemiea grahamii

🌼 Blooms in AZ: March–July

Sources