Golden barrel cactus
Echinocactus grusonii
Also called Mother-in-law's cushion
Houseplant · Succulents & cactiGrows about a centimetre a year. Nothing is wrong; that is simply the pace.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 28 daysSoak, then bone-dry — wait until the soil is dry right through — lift the pot, it tells you.
- Light
- Full sun
- Feed
- Every 90 days
- Humidity
- Low
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out for the summer RHS H1C, to 5°C
- Size
- 0.6 m tall · 0.6 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Central Mexico
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
HandlingTake care handling it
The spines are stiff enough to go through a fingernail; move the pot with a folded towel.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-07-31. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- A tan, papery crust creeping up from the base on the side that faces the window.Corky scarring · disorder