Kroenleinia grusonii

Kroenleinia grusonii, Golden Barrel Cactus is a well-known large-growing barrel cactus from northeast Mexico but is most usually known under its synonym Echinocactus grusonii. Yes, the cactus that you have known and loved as Echinocactus grusonii all these years has had a taxonomic rebrand! Molecular analysis has shown that this species is the result of hybrid speciation between Echinocactus and Ferocactus and the new genus Kroenleinia was formed to acccomodate this phylogenetic finding. This taxonomic placement is now recognised by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in their Plants of the World Online listing. However, it is such an iconic and well-loved cactus that it might well take several generations for growers and collectors to follow suit and recognise the new name.

Although widely grown in cultivation, in 2009, Kroenleinia grusonii was assesesed by the IUCN Red List as endangered in the wild where it has been subjected to habitat destruction and poaching and is found in fragmented disjunct subpopulations.

A very easy cactus to grow, the main requirements for Kroenleinia grusonii are warmth and a well-drained substrate. Although it displays some reasonable cold tolerance (probably due to it being found in the wild between 1400 and 1900 m elevation) it can not be considered hardy in the UK and is best grown either as a houseplant or in a cool glasshouse under fleece.