Landscape Uses:
	Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also useful in spiny barrier plantings.
Ecological Restoration Notes:
	Generally an uncommon element of coastal hammocks, but occasionally forms dense thickets.
Availability:
	Grown by enthusiasts and occasionally by native plant nurseries. Available in Key West at Key West Botanical Garden.
Description:
	Medium vinelike spiny shrub, sometimes forming dense thickets.
Height:
	Typically 6-8 feet in height, but sometimes climbing higher in other vegetation.
Growth Rate:
	Moderate.
Range:
	Monroe County Keys north along the coasts to St. Lucie and Lee counties; West Indies, Texas, Mexico, Central America and northern South America. Somewhat sporadic along the South Florida coastline.
Habitats:
	Coastal hammocks.
Soils:
	Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
	Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance:
	Moderate; tolerates brackish water or occasional inundation by salt water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
	High; can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without significant injury.
Drought Tolerance:
	High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements:
	Light shade to moderate shade.
Flower Color:
	White.
Flower Characteristics:
	Showy; opens at night.
Flowering Season:
	All year.
Fruit:
	Red, spiny, tubercled berry.
Wildlife and Ecology:
	Attracts bat and moth (Sphingidae) pollinators at night.
Horticultural Notes:
	Easily grown from seed. It can also be grown from stem cuttings with the base planted about 2" in the ground.
Comments:
	Barbwire cactus is heavily armed with spines. It is listed as threatened by the state of Florida.