Golden barrel cactus
Despite its wide cultivation, it is severely threatened in its natural habitat.
The golden barrel cactus was discovered in 1889. Since then, thousands of plants have been collected and sold in many different countries where it is highly regarded as an ornamental plant.
Today, golden barrel cactus is one of the most commonly cultivated cacti. However, due to the extensive collection of wild-growing specimens, as well as the destruction of the plant's natural habitats, it is almost completely extinct in the wild.
Sadly, the illegal collection continues, and the species is therefore registered as ‘endangered’ on the international Red List of Thretened Species, made by the IUCN.
Fact box:
- Greenhouse location: Desert house
- Danish name: Guldkugle
- Latin name: Echinocactus grusonii
- Family: Cactus family / Cactaceae
- Natural habitat: Mexico, in the states Querétaro and Hidalgo