Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)

• Ferocactus acanthodes f. variegatus hort.

• Ferocactus cylindraceus (Engelm.) Orcutt
• Echinocactus cylindraceus (Engelm.) Engelm.
• Echinocactus viridescens var. cylindraceus Engelm.
• Ferocactus acanthodes (Lem.) Britton & Rose
• Echinocactus acanthodes Lem.
• Ferocactus acanthodes f. albispinus hort.
• Ferocactus acanthodes var. rostii (Britton & Rose) W.T.Marshall
• Echinocactus acanthodes var. rostii (Britton & Rose) Munz
• Echinocactus rostii (Britton & Rose) A.Berger
• Ferocactus rostii Britton & Rose
• Ferocactus acanthodes f. variegatus hort.
• Ferocactus cylindraceus var. hertrichii (Weinberg) hort.
• Echinocactus hertrichii Weinberg & Werderm. in Backeb.
• Ferocactus acanthodes var. hertrichii (Weinberg) hort.
• Ferocactus hertrichii (Weinberg) Kreuz.
• Thelocactus hertrichii (Weinberg) Borg

• Ferocactus cylindraceus subs. eastwoodiae (L.D.Benson) N.P.Taylor
• Ferocactus acanthodes var. eastwoodiae L.D.Benson in L.D.Benson
• Ferocactus cylindraceus var. eastwoodiae (L.D.Benson) N.P.Taylor
• Ferocactus eastwoodiae (L.D.Benson) L.D.Benson

• Ferocactus cylindraceus subs. lecontei (Engelm.) N.P.Taylor
• Echinocactus lecontei Engelm.
• Echinocactus wislizeni var. lecontei (Engelm.) Engelm.
• Echinocactus wislizeni f. lecontei (Engelm.) Schelle
• Ferocactus acanthodes var. lecontei (Engelm.) G.E.Linds.
• Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei (Engelm.) Bravo
• Ferocactus lecontei (Engelm.) Britton & Rose

• Ferocactus cylindraceus var. tortulispinus (H.E.Gates) Bravo
• Ferocactus acanthodes subs. tortulispinus (H.E.Gates) F.Wolf & R.Wolf
• Ferocactus acanthodes var. tortulispinus (H.E.Gates) G.E.Linds.
• Ferocactus cylindraceus subs. tortulispinus (H.E.Gates) N.P.Taylor
• Ferocactus tortulispinus H.E.Gates

Description: The standard Ferocactus acanthodes (Ferocactus cylindraceusSN|10113]]SN|10102]]) is a barrel cactus usually unbranched with bright red spines. The variegated form (Ferocactus acanthodesSN|10102]]SN|10113]] f. variegata) has sectors, patches, shades or stripes with yellow colours, even distinct shades of green. Plants with variegated stems are often attractive and highly prized. A very few variegated plants sprout unpredictably time by time among normal green seedling and are very rare. Variegated plants are also found in habitat even though with low frequency, but these plants are particularly sensitive and rarely survive in the harsh environment of their native land.
Stem: Green and yellow, spherical becoming columnar with tim column up to 2 m tall and 30 cm in diameter.
Ribs: 2,5 cm high and tuberculate.
Central spines: A large central spine and three auxiliary centrals form a crucifix shape, The primary central is 7-15 long, angles down and is slightly to moderately hooked, sometimes to 90 degrees. The other centrals are from 5 to 7,5 cm long. The centrals are noticeably ring ridged and flattened, with a flat upper surface and rounded lower surface. Spines can be very light grey to red and yellow, but darken to black with age.
Flowers: Yellow tinged with red appear in May and June at the crown of the plant, 4 to 6cm. The fruit with scales is fleshy, yellow or yellowish green, 5 cm long, 2,5 cm in diameter. The flowers on all subspecies are yellow, occasionally with a red tint.
Remarks: Variegated Ferocacti can be found (although not commonly) in cultivation and some of these variegated plants have a place in most collections. All variegates are mutants. Something has gone wrong with the cellular structure of the growth tip (apical meristem) of the plant. As a result of this mutation, chlorophyll is missing from some or all layers of the plant epidermis. The odd variegate appears in many seedling batches in a small percentage and are generally separated from normal plants. Variegated plants grow slower and are generally smaller than non-variegates of the same species. Coloured areas are also generally weaker, and more susceptible to fungus, sunburn and other defects. A large well grown variegate Ferocactus is truly an achievement. These are harder to grow well than they appear.

Notes: Ferocactus acanthodesSN|10113]]SN|10113]] is highly variable and has numerous synonyms.

Cultivation and Propagation: Variegated cacti are regarded as choice and difficult in cultivation, but despite that many of them are relatively easy to grow. But be aware that they cannot tolerate prolonged exposure to direct sun light (especially during the hottest summer days), so grow them in half-shade or under filtered sun. They are sometime seen as grafted plants, but some of this colourful plants (those with some chlorophyll) are able to grow on their own roots and are priced by collectors.
Soil: Use mineral well-permeable substratum with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Watering: Water sparingly from March till October, and keep perfectly dry in winter, at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade. (In general these plants are more tender and cannot endure freezing temperatures). In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!!
Propagation: Seeds are the only way of reproducing. Seeds from variegated parents often give raise to some variegated seedlings too.