Ferocactus chrysacanthus

A golden- to red-spined barrel cactus from the fog-bathed Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, including Cedros and the San Benito islands. Its home is a mild, almost frost-free coastal desert where moisture comes more from sea fog than rain, so it wants full sun, a mild winter and very sparse watering.

At home, aim for

Day IntermediateTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry

Light Full sunDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

Open coastal desert scrub on rocky and gravelly slopes and plains near the Pacific shore and on offshore islands, fully exposed to sun and frequent marine fog.

Recorded from 8 to 865 m, median 126 m; mostly near sea level on the coast and islands.

Baja California SurIsla de CedrosIslas San BenitoVizcaíno Peninsula

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.