Alphabetical Plant Listing

Cleistocactus strausii (Silver Torch)

Silver Torch, Wooly Torch, Silver Torch Cactus, Borzicactus strausii, Cephalocereus strausii, Cereus strausii, Denmoza strausii


Fast-growing, award-winning Cleistocactus strausii (Silver Torch) forms slender, erect, silver columns, 3 in. wide (8 cm), densely covered with short white spines. Each columnar stem features 25 narrow ribs with about 30 longer, white spines and 4 thicker pale yellow spines. The main stem often branches at the base, with upright-growing stems attached to the mother plant. In spring and summer, narrow, tubular, deep magenta flowers, 3 in. long (8 cm), are produced along the stems on mature specimens. They last 4-5 days and never fully open. Silver Torch does not like extremely high temperatures and is reported to be cold-hardy down to 14°F (-10°C) for short periods. Terrific at adding texture, color and shape to the landscape, this eye-catching and elegant plant looks equally spectacular as an exotic houseplant.

  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
  • Grows up to 3-10 ft. tall (90-300 cm) and 3-6 ft. wide (90-180 cm).
  • Easily grown in well-drained soils in full sun. Water regularly when in growth. Make sure you let the soil dry out between waterings. No water should ever be allowed to stand around the roots. Keep the plant dry in winter. Apply a dilute low nitrogen fertilizer fortnightly during late spring and summer. Drought tolerant.
  • Great for desert gardens, rock gardens, succulent gardens or Mediterranean gardens. Great in decorative containers too.
  • Deer resistant.
  • Propagate by seed or stem cuttings.
  • Virtually disease free. Watch for mealybug.
  • Native to Bolivia and Argentina

Buy Cleistocactus strausii (Silver Torch)

Requirements

Hardiness 9 – 10
Heat Zones 10 – 11
Plant Type Cactus - Succulents
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 3' – 10' (90cm – 3m)
Spread 3' – 6' (90cm – 180cm)
Spacing 48" – 60" (120cm – 150cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden

Buy Plants


123RF Stock Photo, (c) Gerhard Bock, SucculentsandMore.com

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 9 – 10
Heat Zones 10 – 11
Plant Type Cactus - Succulents
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 3' – 10' (90cm – 3m)
Spread 3' – 6' (90cm – 180cm)
Spacing 48" – 60" (120cm – 150cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden

Plant Calculator

How many Cleistocactus strausii (Silver Torch) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Cleistocactus strausii (Silver Torch)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.