Echinocactus is a genus of cacti in the subfamily Cactoideae. The generic name derives from the Ancient Greek á¼ÂÃÂá¿Âýÿà(echînos), meaning "spiny," and cactus. It and Ferocactus are the two genera of barrel cactus. Members of the genus usually have heavy spination and relatively small flowers. The fruits are copiously woolly, and this is one major distinction between Echinocactus and Ferocactus. Propagation is by seed.
As of 2025, the genus includes 3 accepted species out of hundreds of plants having the name.