Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Devil's Tongue
Devil's Tongue is a small, round barrel cactus, about a foot across, with one wide, flat central spine in each cluster that curls like a tongue. Unlike most barrels, it blooms in the cool season, with rich purple flowers from late fall into early spring. It stays small enough for a patio pot and grows well in a desert bed too.
Best for: patio pots, small cactus beds and accent spots where you want winter color, from a barrel that stays about a foot across.
It stays about a foot across and a little over a foot tall. In a pot, use porous cactus soil with extra pumice or perlite, and water weekly in warm weather.
Rich purple flowers, about 1.5 inches across, open from late fall into early spring. That is when few other cacti are in bloom, so it brings color to a quiet time of year.
It grows well in the ground too. Pick a spot where leaves and other plants will not bury it, with light shade in the afternoon in summer.
It takes only light frosts, so cover it on hard freeze nights. Keep it dry in cold, damp winter weather. The hooked spines catch skin, so keep it back from walkways.
- 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 it is settled, water weekly in warm weather in a pot, or about twice a month in summer in the ground. Stop watering in cold, damp winter weather.
It does best in full sun to light shade. In a Valley summer, afternoon shade keeps it looking good, and all-day filtered sun works too.
It is hardy to about 17 to 25°F and takes only light frosts. On hard freeze nights, cover it with frost cloth to the ground or move a pot under cover.
In a pot, feed it about twice a year. In the ground it needs no fertilizer.
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 called devil's tongue?
One central spine in each cluster is wide, flat and curved at the tip, like a tongue. It is usually red and sometimes yellow.
When does it bloom?
It blooms in the cool season, from late fall into early spring. Most barrels bloom in spring or summer, so plant it where you will enjoy the winter color.
How big does it get?
It stays small for a barrel, about a foot across and a little over a foot tall. That makes it an easy fit for a patio pot.
How often should I water it?
In a pot, water it weekly in warm weather. In the ground, water about twice a month in summer. Stop watering in cold, damp winter weather.
How cold can it take?
It is hardy to about 17 to 25°F and handles only light frosts. On hard freeze nights, cover it or move pots under cover.
Does it need full sun?
It grows in full sun or light shade. In a Valley summer, give it afternoon shade or filtered sun to keep it looking good.
Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes, and most people grow it that way. Use porous cactus soil with extra perlite, pumice or coarse sand, and feed it about twice a year.
What is the difference between devil's tongue and fishhook barrel?
Devil's tongue stays about a foot across and blooms purple in winter. Fishhook grows 3 to 6 feet tall and blooms yellow to red in late summer.
Devil's Tongue for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Devil's Tongue is a small barrel cactus from Mexico, named for its wide, flat central spines. People grow it for its size and its purple winter flowers. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard or pot: size, bloom time, water, cold and planting.
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 devil's tongue barrel cactus?
It is a small barrel cactus from Mexico with one wide, flat central spine in each cluster. It blooms purple in the cool season.
When does devil's tongue bloom?
It blooms from late fall into early spring. The rich purple flowers are about 1.5 inches across.
How big does devil's tongue get?
Plan for about a foot across and a little over a foot tall. That is small enough for a patio pot.
How often do you water a potted barrel cactus in Phoenix?
In a pot, water it weekly in warm weather. In the ground, water about twice a month in summer, and stop watering in cold, damp winter weather.
Is devil's tongue cold hardy?
It is hardy to about 17 to 25°F and takes only light frosts. Cover it on hard freeze nights.
Is there a barrel cactus with purple flowers?
Yes. Devil's tongue is one of the few barrels with purple flowers, and it blooms in winter instead of summer.
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.