Candy Barrel Cacti (Ferocactus wislizeni) bloom in August here in Tucson, Arizona. The beautiful flowers on this native cactus range in color from red to orange (the most common) to yellow. In August of 2005, I found these three Candy Barrel Cacti with different colored flowers all growing within a few feet of each other in the desert south of Tucson.

Candy Barrel Cacti have stout, hooked spines and edible, tart, yellow fruit. These common, sun-loving cacti lean over to face the sunny south and will actually sunburn on their normally shaded, tender, northern sides if replanted facing any direction besides south. Newly replanted Candy Barrel Cacti can often be seen wearing shade cloth "hats" to protect them from sunburn.