Xerophyte

Description

Ferocactus hystrix is a very beautiful species, widespread in cultivation that forms a large barrel shaped specimen with time. This is a cristate form, producing very wide undulant fans topped with few (but fierce) yellowish/red spines. The cells at the tip of the branch where growth occurs begin to multiply at a much faster rate and the normal growing tip "goes crazy", creating fantastic fans with pronounced sculpture effects. Sometime the plant grows a fast growing cylindrical stem to reveal its origins. Crested Ferocactus can be found (although not common) in cultivation and some of these crested plants have a place in most collections. A large well grown crested Ferocactus is truly an achievement. These are harder to grow well than they appear.