Golden rat tail cactus with trailing golden-spined stems and salmon-orange flowers in a terracotta pot

Golden Rat Tail

Cleistocactus winteri
Categories:
Cacti & Succulents  ·  
Columnar Cactus
Light
Morning sun / afternoon shade
Water
Water thoroughly when the potting mix dries during active growth; reduce watering substantially in winter. Never leave roots in standing water.
Size
3-4 ft long stems × 2-3 ft wide
Habit
Groundcover – trailing cactus
Toxicity
Non-toxic (spines)
Description
A trailing cactus native to Bolivia, with slender green stems densely covered in soft-looking golden spines and showy salmon-orange flowers.
Bloom Time
Spring to summer
Deciduous / Evergreen
Evergreen
Special Features
Attracts Bees / Pollinators, Attracts Hummingbirds, Drought Tolerant, Thorny / Spiny
Growth Rate
Moderate
Growth Habit
Groundcover – trailing cactus
Mature Size
3-4 ft long stems × 2-3 ft wide
Flower Color
Orange to salmon-pink
Foliage Color
Green with golden spines
Landscape Use
Container / Patio
Garden Style
Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape, Pollinator / Wildlife
Soil
Amended / Rich
Companion Plants
Christmas aloe, Ox tongue, Zebra haworthia
Non-toxic (spines)
Non-toxic (sharp spines can injure)
Care Instructions

Light: Bright filtered light or morning sun; protect from intense Phoenix afternoon sun, especially in summer.

Water: Water thoroughly when the potting mix dries during active growth; reduce watering substantially in winter. Never leave roots in standing water.

Soil: Fast-draining cactus mix amended with pumice, perlite, or coarse grit; containers must have drainage holes.

Mature size: Trailing stems typically reach 2–3 feet long; clumps spread approximately 2–3 feet wide.

Bloom: Flowers intermittently from spring through summer on established plants.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen.

Growth rate: Moderate to fast with warmth, adequate light, and appropriate watering.