Ferocactus hamatacanthus

The Turk's head barrel cactus of the Chihuahuan Desert, up to about 60 cm tall, with long hooked central spines, yellow flowers and juicy, edible green fruit. It is one of the more cold-tolerant barrels if kept dry, and it wants strong sun and lean, limy soil.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets 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

Limestone hills, rocky slopes and crevices in Chihuahuan Desert scrub, growing alongside lechuguilla agave.

The available source gives an elevation range that appears garbled ("700 to 200 m"). The species spans low Tamaulipan plains to Chihuahuan uplands, roughly 200 to 1600 m.

TexasNew MexicoChihuahuaCoahuilaDurangoNuevo LeónSan Luis PotosíTamaulipas

🔒 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.