Silver torch

Description

Cleistocactus strausii, the silver torch or wooly torch, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Cactaceae. It is native to mountainous regions of Department Tarija, Bolivia, at 1,500–3,000 m (4,921–9,843 ft). Its slender, erect, grey-green columns can reach a height of 3 m (9.8 ft), but are only about 6 cm (2.5 in) across. The columns are formed from around 25 ribs and are densely covered with areoles, supporting four yellow-brown spines up to 4 cm (1.5 in) long and 20 shorter white radials. This cactus prefers free draining soils, strong sunlight, but not high temperatures; in fact it can withstand hard frosts down to −10 °C (14 °F). In its natural habitat it receives plenty of water during the summer, but almost none over the winter. In cultivation, watering too much in winter often leads to root rot. Older cacti, over 45 cm (17.5 in) tall, produce deep red, burgundy, flowers in late summer. The 6 cm (2.5 in) long cylindrical flowers protrude horizontally and radially from the columns. In common with other cacti in the genus Cleistocactus, the flowers hardly open, with only the style and stamens protruding. Cultivated plants often flower freely. In the United Kingdom, this plant is usually grown under glass, and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Cleistocactus strausii has gray-green columns growing up to 3 m (9.8 ft) tall and several centimetres in diameter, which are covered in white spines. Only older plants will produce the deep red/burgundy cylindrical flowers. These flowers emerge horizontally and radially from the stem of the cactus. They are deep red to burgundy and grow up to 10cm long.