We had some Golden Barrel Cactus or Echinocactus grusonii growing in our yard in Mesa, Arizona. They are quite common as landscape plants in the Salt River Valley. This lovely group of cactus is in the Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia, California. Here is a short description of this cactus from Wikipedia: Echinocactus grusonii.
Echinocactus grusonii, popularly known as the golden barrel cactus, golden ball or mother-in-law’s cushion, is a well known species of cactus, and is endemic to east-central Mexico.It is rare and endangered in the wild, where it is found near Mesa de León in the state of Querétaro, and in the state of Hidalgo. The population was critically reduced in the 1990s, by the creation of the Zimapán Dam and reservoir in Hidalgo. The cactus grows in volcanic rock on slopes, at altitudes around 1,400 metres (4,600 ft).
