Fishhook barrel cactus
Ferocactus wislizeni
Also called Arizona barrel cactus, Candy barrel, Compass barrel and Ferocactus
Houseplant · Succulents & cactiThe barrel with HOOKS — the central spine on every areole curves over like a fishhook, red when new, and it will take a glove off you. It leans toward the south as it grows, which is why the old name is compass barrel.
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
- Very low
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out for the summer RHS H1C, to 5°C
- Size
- 0.6 m tall · 0.4 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- The Sonoran desert
Is it safe for pets and people?
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
The hooked spines catch and hold — thick gloves, or a folded newspaper round the body.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-21. 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.