Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)

• Echinocactus grusonii f. cristatus hort.

• Echinocactus grusonii var. intertextus Y.Itô
• Echinocactus grusonii var. curvispinus
• Echinocactus grusonii f. curvispinus hort.
• Echinocactus grusonii var. tortulispinus hort.
• Echinocactus grusonii cv. Kraukopf

• Echinocactus grusonii var. intertextus f. cristatus hort.
• Echinocactus grusonii f. curvispinus cristatus hort.
• Echinocactus grusonii cv. Kraukopf cristatus

• Echinocactus grusonii f. setispinus hort.
• Echinocactus grusonii var. setispinus hort.

• Echinocactus grusonii var. subinermis Y.Itô
• Echinocactus grousoni f. nudum hort.
• Echinocactus grusonii var. brevispinus hort.
• Echinocactus grusonii var. inermis hort.
• Echinocactus grusonii cv. Togenashi Kinshachi

• Echinocactus grusonii var. subinermis f. cristata hort.
• Echinocactus grusonii var. brevispinus f. cristatus hort.

• Echinocactus grusonii var. setispinus f. minor mostruosus cristatus cv. Scarascia
• Echinocactus grusonii f. setispinus monstruosus hort.

Description: The typical Echinocactus grusoniiSN|3345]]SN|3345]] is a big globular cactus (commonly known as the "Golden barrel cactus") that is very popular and widely grown for its golden-yellow striking long, golden spines, but this beautiful crested form is still rare in cactus collection. The crested form can also get very big making a spectacular specimen.
Stem: Pale green and heavily ribbed with numerous areoles sprouting radial, yellow spines.
Flowers: Produced from end of spring to summer only on larger mature specimens receiving enough full sun. Flower are diurnal, vivid yellow (4-5 cm wide) and form a circular ring at the top of the plant, but are not very visible being small in relation with the size of the barrel, and lost into the creamy coloured wool at the plant apex.

Cultivation and Propagation: It is a fairly easy plant to grow both grafted or in its own roots. During the summer it is best to keep the plants outside where the temperature can rise to over 30 C with no harm to the plant. Furnish good drainage and use a an open and free draining mineral compost that allows therefore roots to breath. They like only a short winter's rest and should be kept almost completely dry during the winter months, If the soil is allowed to be dry for too long root loss could follow but equally the same result would occur if the plants are both wet and cold. From March onwards the plant will begin to grow and watering should be increased gradually until late May when the plant should be in full growth.
Water regularly during the summer so long as the plant pot is allowed to drain and not sit in a tray of water. During hot weather you may need to water the plants more frequently so long as the plant is actively growing. From late September watering should be reduced to force the plant to go in to a state of semi dormancy, by October you should be back in to the winter watering regime.
Need full sun avoiding only the harshest summer sun, if kept too dark they may become overly lush and greener and could be prone to rotting due to over watering.
Feeding may not be necessary at all if the compost is fresh then, feed in summer only if the plant hasn't been repotted recently. Do not feed the plants from September onwards as this can cause lush growth which can be fatal during the darker cold months. Grown specimens resist to -4°C for a short time, but it is best to keep above 5° C to avoid ugly spots on the plant epidermis. Prefers a position in full sun, which will help to maintain the lustre of the spines. Besides, it performs wonderfully in containers, Container media should be coarse as well.
Propagation: From cuttings or grafting on a large strong under-stock.