Submitted by: Maria Capaldo and Mike Short
The plants in this group need maximum direct sunlight, extremely well-draining soil, and infrequent watering. Allow soil to dry before watering. These plants are all summer growers so fertilize once a month in the spring/summer growth period and water less during the winter when the plants are dormant.
Echinocactus: a genus of cacti in the subfamily Cactoideae indigenous to the Southwestern United States and Mexico. The generic name derives from the Ancient Greek εχινος (echinos), meaning hedgehog and cactus. Echinocactus, Ferocactus, and Kroenleinia are the three genera of barrel cactus. Members of the genus usually have an overall barrel shape with well-defined ribs and heavy spination. They develop a dense, fuzzy wool at the apex which gives rise to the flowers in mature plants. Propagation is by seed.
Historically, the name Echinocactus has included many hundreds of species. Taxonomists and most recently, DNA analysis, has redefined the genus. According to the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) in January 2026 the genus Echinocactus contains 2 species Echinocactus horizonthalonius and Echinocactus platyacanthus, 2 subspecies Echinocactus horizonthalonius subsp. australis and Echinocactus horizonthalonius subsp. horizonthalonius, and 1 hybrid Echinocactus × diabolicus which is a cross between the two main species.
Kroenleinia: perhaps the best known species is the “golden barrel” from Mexico, which has been found to have a DNA pattern that is probably derived from hybrids between Echinocactus and Ferocactus. To correct this, Echinocactus grusonii has been moved to its own genus, and the accepted name has become Kroenleinia grusonii. It is an easy-to-grow and widely cultivated plant. Varieties include albispsinus (white or nearly white spines), brevispinus or inermis (mutant with short spines). Though common in the houseplant and landscape industry, grusonii has become very rare in habitat.
Golden Barrel
Homalocephala: a genus of barrel cacti from arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The genus, grouped with Echinocactus and Astrophytum, was first described in 1922 by Britton & Rose but now only seems to contain species moved from the genus Echinocactus as a result of a molecular phylogenetic study by Vargas & Bárcenas (et al) in 2018.
The genus (as of January 2026) consists of Homalocephala parryi, Homalocephala polycephala, Homalocephala polycephala subsp. polycephala, Homalocephala polycephala subsp. xeranthemoides, and Homalocephala texensis.
As a result of the study Echinocactus courantianus, E. lindheimeri, E. platycephalus, E. parryi, and E. textensis and its subspecies and varieties are now Homalocephala texensis. Echinocactus polycephalus is now Homalocephala polycephala. Echinocactus polycephalus var. flavispinus is now Homalocephala polycephala subsp. polycephala. Echinocactus polycephalus subsp. xeranthemoides is now Homalocephala polycephala subsp. xeranthemoides.
Homalocephala texensis is commonly known as the Texas star cactus, horse crippler, devil’s pincushion, or candy cactus.
LATIN LOOKUP – Loquerisne Latine (Do you speak Latin)?
The meanings of latin plant names on this page – from https://davesgarden.com/guides/botanary/
- australis [aw-STRAL-iss]
Of or from the south, or Australia. - Echinocactus [ek-in-oh-KAK-tus]
From the Greek echinos (porcupine, hedgehog) and cactus, referring to its spines. - Ferocactus [fer-oh-KAK-tus]
From the Latin ferus, (fierce) and cactus, referring to its heavy spines. - flavispinus [flav-ih-SPIN-us]
Yellow spines. - grusonii [groo-SON-ee-eye]
Named for Hermann Gruson, 19th century German collector, nurseryman in Magdeburg. - Homalocephala [hom-al-oh-SEF-uh-luh, hom-al-oh-KEF-uh-luh]
From the Greek homalos (flat) and kephale (head). - lindheimeri [lind-HY-mer-ee]
Named for Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer, 19th century German political exile who lived and collected plants in Texas (U.S.). - parryi [PAIR-ree-eye]
Named for Dr. Charles Christopher Parry, 19th century English-born American botanist and collector with the Pacific Railway Survey. - platyacanthus [plat-ee-a-KAN-thus]
From the Greek platys (broad) and Akantha (thorn). - polycephala [pol-ee-SEF-a-la, pol-ee-KEF-a-la]
Many-headed. - polycephalus [pol-ee-SEF-a-lus, pol-ee-KEF-a-lus]
Many-headed. - texensis [teck-SEN-sis]
Of or from Texas (U.S.).