Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Vegetable
Origin
North America, Southwestern United States, Mexico
Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Colville's Barrel Cactus, Long-spined Barrel Cactus, Barrel Cactus
Green Tomatillo, Purple Tomatillo
Number of Varieties
2940
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
limestone outcrops, Rocky areas, Semi desert
Cultivated Beds
USDA Hardiness Zone
12-156-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12*1
Sunset Zone
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Oval/Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
40.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
13.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Magenta
Yellow, Sandy Brown
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Pink, Red
Green, Purple, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
-
Lance shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs good drainage, Needs very little water, Water carefully
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
-
Remove all suckers, Remove wet foliage
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Fungal Diseases
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
-
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Birds, Flea beetles
Allergy
-
Arthritis, Inflammation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Cancer, Diabetes, Energy, Opthalmic
Part of Plant Used
Flowers
Fruits
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Used for making green salsas and chilli sauce, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
ECHINOCACTUS horizonthalonius
PHYSALIS philadelphica
Common Name
Devilshead, Turk's head cactus, Blue barrel cactus, Eagle's claw, Horse maimer, Horse crippler, Visnaga meloncillo
Green Tomato, Mexican Groundcherry, Tomatillo
In Hindi
Blue barrel cactus
Tomatillos
In German
Blau Faßkaktus
Tomatillos
In French
Bleu barrel cactus
Tomatilles
In Spanish
biznaga Azul
Tomatillos
In Greek
Μπλε βαρέλι κάκτος
Tomatillos
In Portuguese
cacto de tambor azul
Tomatillos
In Polish
Niebieski baryłkę kaktus
Tomatillos
In Latin
Blue Cactus
Tomatillos
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Solanales
Family
Cactaceae
Solanaceae
Genus
Echinocactus
Physalis
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Cacteae
Physaleae
Subfamily
Cactaceae
Solanoideae
Number of Species
2975
1
27800
👆🏻