When it comes to cactus that bloom during the influx of snowy-headed winter visitors that flock to Arizona to escape North Country winters, the selection is slim indeed. Most pump out their showy flowers in late spring or summer when only hard-boiled desert rats are around to witness the spectacle.

Not so with the devil's tongue (Ferocactus latispinus). Unlike its other family members in the barrel cactus (Ferocactus) group, devil's tongue blooms in fall. Around my birthday in early November, buds begin to swell and purple flowers begin opening. This blooming can last well into December in Tucson at occurs at a time with other cactus are sitting around waiting for warmer weather. Every winter visitor should have one, but five or more would be better.

Even out of bloom, the devil's tongue is fetching. It sports wide recurving amber spines tinged with red and orange. Do they really look like Lucifer's tongue? Well, they are not forked, but they do have a devilish rake and are arranged in a sort of sinister array. It is a lovable villain for sure.