Echinocactus platyacanthus, formerly known as E. ingens, is the largest of the Echinocactus. It is reported to grow to 7 feet tall and 3 feet across in the wild. It comes from Central Mexico where it is known as "Biznaga Gigante", or giant barrel. Young specimens have little resemblance to mature ones, but are attractive nonetheless for the striated grey green body and purplish accents. Once mature, yellow flowers are produced from a grey or white wooly crown in spring.
     This one immediately caught my eye during a visit to Miles2go in Tucson last fall. I love the patterns, colors and gnarly spines. Below is an interesting one at Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior, Arizona. The growth tip got damaged and it produced two beautiful offsets. Also, Trent Tan, Geoff Stein and Xenomorf, fellow members of the Davesgarden.com gardening forums, have allowed me to use their pictures. Thanks guys :-) Trent contributed the flower closeup and Geoff the multiple flowers and the beautifully colored specimen. Xenomorf contributed the crest. Also check out galleries of their other pictures in the Photo Galleries/Friends section.

Beautifully striped offsets	Closeup of the one on the right	Flower by Trent	Crest by Xenomorph
Flowers by Geoff	Color By Geoff