Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Ferocactus macrodiscus
Ferocactus macrodiscus is a small, low barrel cactus that grows wider than tall, with a blue-green body and stout reddish spines. From early spring into summer it opens pink and white striped flowers across its crown. It stays under a foot tall and about 8 to 12 inches across, which makes it a good barrel for a pot or a small cactus bed.
Best for: pots, dish gardens and the front of small cactus beds, in a spot with afternoon shade in summer.
It stays under a foot tall and about 8 to 12 inches across. Use porous cactus soil with extra pumice or perlite and water weekly in warm weather.
It grows wider than tall, so it suits the front edge of a small cactus bed where it can be seen up close.
Pink and white striped flowers about 1.5 inches across open on the crown from early spring into summer.
In a Phoenix summer it needs afternoon shade. It rots if kept wet in winter, and it takes cold only to about 25°F.
- 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 in the ground it needs little to no water. In a pot, water weekly in warm weather and let it dry between waterings. Keep it dry in winter.
In a Phoenix summer, protect it from afternoon sun with a tree, wall or shade cloth. Morning sun or light shade suits it.
It is hardy to about 25°F. On freeze nights, cover it with frost cloth to the ground 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.
How big does Ferocactus macrodiscus get?
It stays low, under a foot tall, and grows about 8 to 12 inches across, sometimes wider. It grows slowly, so it can stay in the same pot for years.
What do the flowers look like?
Pink and white striped flowers about 1.5 inches across open on the crown from early spring into summer. Plant it where you can look down on the crown.
Does it need full sun?
It cannot take full sun in a Phoenix summer. Give it morning sun and afternoon shade, or light shade all day.
How often should I water it?
In the ground it needs little to no water once rooted, and in a pot it needs weekly water in warm weather. Keep it dry in winter, when wet soil rots it.
How cold can it take?
It is hardy to about 25°F. Cover it or move pots under cover on freeze nights.
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.
Which way should I plant it?
Face it the way it grew, with the marked south side facing south, so the shaded side does not sunburn.
Macrodiscus vs devil's tongue
Both are small barrels. Macrodiscus is low and flat with pink-striped spring flowers, while devil's tongue is rounder with purple winter flowers, so choose by the bloom season you want.
Ferocactus macrodiscus for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Ferocactus macrodiscus is a small, flat barrel cactus from Mexico grown for its pink-striped flowers. It needs a little more shelter than most barrels in a Valley summer. Below is what to expect, including size, sun, water, cold and flowers.
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 Ferocactus macrodiscus?
It is a small, flat barrel cactus from Mexico with a blue-green body and reddish spines. Its flowers are striped pink and white.
How big does Ferocactus macrodiscus get?
Plan for under a foot tall and about 8 to 12 inches across. It grows slowly, so it stays small for years.
Does Ferocactus macrodiscus need shade in Phoenix?
Yes, protect it from afternoon sun in summer. Morning sun or light shade suits it best.
How often do you water Ferocactus macrodiscus?
In the ground it needs little to no water once rooted. In a pot, water it weekly in warm weather, and keep it dry in winter.
Is Ferocactus macrodiscus cold hardy?
It is hardy to about 25°F. Cover it or move a pot under cover on freeze nights.
Barrel cactus with pink flowers
Ferocactus macrodiscus blooms with pink and white striped flowers from early spring into summer. Plant it where you can look down on the crown to see them.
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.