Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Blue Barrel
Blue Barrel is a round barrel cactus with a blue-gray body, deep ribs and yellow spines. Yellow, funnel-shaped flowers open near the top from spring through late summer and last a long time, followed by round white fruit. It grows slowly to about 2 feet tall and wide, a size that suits pots, raised planters and rock gardens.
Best for: pots, raised planters and rock gardens where its blue color stands out against other low-water cacti and succulents.
It grows slowly to about 2 feet tall and wide. In a pot, use porous cactus soil with extra pumice or perlite and water weekly in warm weather.
Its blue-gray body and yellow spines contrast with other low-water cacti and succulents in a rock garden. It grows in full sun or part shade, in fast-draining soil.
Funnel-shaped yellow flowers appear near the top from spring through late summer and last a long time, followed by round white fruit.
It is hardy to only about 20 to 25°F, so cover it on hard freeze nights. Wet winter soil rots it, so keep it dry from late fall to spring.
- Group planting2 ft apart
- Open planting3 ft apart
Wait about a week after planting before the first water, then water every other week while nights stay above 60°F. Once rooted, water every 2 to 4 weeks in hot, dry summers. In a pot, water weekly in warm weather. Keep it dry in winter.
Plant it facing the same way it grew. The nursery usually marks the south side. Full sun to part shade suits it, and afternoon shade in summer keeps it looking good.
It is hardy to about 20 to 25°F. On hard freeze nights, cover it with frost cloth or move a pot under cover.
In the ground it needs no fertilizer. In a pot, feed it lightly about twice a year.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
Why is it blue?
Its skin is naturally blue-gray to blue-green, a trait of this species. Give it full sun to part shade and fast-draining soil.
How big does blue barrel get?
It grows slowly to about 2 feet tall and wide. Older plants can grow extra heads and form a mound.
How far apart should I plant blue barrel?
Plant them about 2 to 3 feet apart, center to center. The Spacing tab on this page has the numbers.
When does it bloom?
Yellow, funnel-shaped flowers open near the top from spring through late summer, and each one lasts a long time. Round white fruit follows the flowers.
How often should I water it?
Water every other week after planting while nights are warm. Once rooted, water every 2 to 4 weeks in hot, dry summers and keep it dry in winter.
How cold can it take?
It is hardy to about 20 to 25°F. Cover it or move pots under cover on hard freeze nights.
Does it need full sun?
It grows in full sun or part shade. In a Valley summer, afternoon shade keeps it looking good.
Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes, it grows well in a pot. Use porous cactus soil with extra pumice, perlite or coarse sand, and a pot with a drainage hole.
Single blue barrel vs blue barrel multi
This page is the single-headed plant. The multi form carries several heads that build a wider mound, so pick it if you want the look of a group.
Blue Barrel for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Blue Barrel is a single-headed barrel cactus from eastern central Mexico, grown for its blue-gray skin and yellow spines. This page covers size, sun, water, cold, flowers and planting direction in a Valley yard or pot.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
What is a blue barrel cactus?
It is Ferocactus glaucescens, a round barrel from eastern central Mexico with blue-gray skin and yellow spines.
How big does blue barrel cactus get?
Plan for about 2 feet tall and wide. It grows slowly, and older plants can grow extra heads.
Blue barrel cactus flowers
Yellow, funnel-shaped flowers open near the top from spring through late summer, and each one lasts a long time.
How often do you water blue barrel cactus in Phoenix?
Water every other week after planting. Once it is rooted, water every 2 to 4 weeks in hot, dry summers, and keep it dry in winter.
Is blue barrel cactus cold hardy?
It is hardy to about 20 to 25°F. Cover it with frost cloth on hard freeze nights.
Blue barrel cactus in a pot
It suits pots and raised planters. Use porous cactus soil with extra pumice or perlite, and water weekly in warm weather.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.