Hardiness zones
Sunset 12-24
USDA 9-11 (arid zones only)

Landscape Use: Accent cacti for xeric landscapes, individually or in groups, desert gardens, containers.

Form & Character: These are stout, slowly-clumping columnar cacti that like other Ferocactus species evoke feelings of solitary and loneliness.

Growth Habit: Stout, short, slow-growing and long-lived columnar cactus eventually to 6 to 10 feet by 1.5 feet wide, will sometimes branch at the base. The fluted ribs of both species tend to revolve about elongating stem trunk.

Foliage/Texture: Mexican lime cactus has stiff bright reddish spines, 8 to 10 at each aerole; VERY coarse texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Mexican lime cacti have ringed clusters of small cup-shaped red flowers at the terminal meristem, edible. Flowering is followed by development of yellow, oval-shaped, scaly fruit, generally fleshy and indehiscent to 3/4 inch long at the apex of the barrel.

Seasonal Color: Flowers provide a subtle visual accent during the early summer heat of May.

Temperature: Tolerant

Light: Perfers a light filtered shade in Phoenix or other lower desert locations.

Soil: In urban landscape soils with limited topography (slope), Mexican lime cacti require a well-drained soil.

Watering: None

Pruning: None

Propagation: Seed

Disease and Pests: Root rot in poorly drained soils.

Additional comments: Mexican lime cactus are easily transplanted and are a spectacular columnar cacti for rock gardens and desert landscape themes.

Minor tidbit: The genus name Ferrocactus is from the Latin 'ferox' which means ferocious.