Gardeners are often fascinated by the Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusonii), which has unique characteristics as feature plants in the landscape. First, these are the only common plants that ...

Golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) is a good-looking and colorful plant. These cacti are perfectly round when young but elongate as they mature, taking on the barrel shape for which they are ...

Smart gardeners in West Hawaii are installing some drought tolerant plants in their landscapes. Of course, one of the most drought tolerant groups of plants are those that can thrive in the desert. We ...

The golden barrel cactus may be endangered in Mexico, but the plant has found new life north of the border as a top accent in low-water landscapes. Sometimes called mother-in-law’s cushion, the golden ...

Early American pioneers always knew the north side of the tree produces moss. In the woods, this knowledge saved many lives. In drier climates of North America, it’s the barrel cactus that is our most ...

The term "desertscaping" often conjures images of a barren aesthetic — a bed of decomposed granite sparsely dotted with cactus — that mimics the most arid wild desert landscape. And while a return to ...

Q: I have a golden barrel cactus that has grown to 3 feet wide in a place where I cannot leave it . It’s a beautiful specimen, but I have to remove it. Any ideas on how to move it? The thorns are ...

Next to my reading chair sits a lighted magnifier, a box of needles and various types of tweezers. This is the desert rat’s surgical kit that’s essential after every workday in my cactus garden. Many ...