The flowers are pink, yellow, red or purple depending on the species, and the petals sometimes have a stripe of a darker colour.

They are most often found growing along arroyos (washes) where their seeds have been subjected to scarification due to water movement, but they oddly also tend to grow along ridges in spots where depressions have formed and can hold water for some period of time.

Ferocactus have very shallow root systems and are easily uprooted during flash floods.

In cultivation Ferocactus require full sun, little water, and good drainage.

They cannot tolerate freezing temperatures for extended periods, which typically cause them to yellow, bleach, then slowly die.