Cleistocactus strausii | Silver torch
€7,95
🌱 Morphology
Silvery and resilient... A columnar, shrubby cactus, highly branched from the base, capable of forming clusters of numerous grayish-green erect stems, which can reach approximately 2–3 m in height and 6–8 cm in diameter. It presents between 25 and 30 low ribs, densely covered by areoles set close together. Each areole develops numerous white, fine, and flexible hair-like radial spines, which give the stem its characteristic silvery appearance. It also possesses several yellowish central spines that are shorter and more rigid.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Species native to the department of Tarija, in southern Bolivia, where it grows in dry, semi-arid mountainous environments on rocky slopes and xerophytic scrubland, at an altitude of approximately 1,800 to 2,600 m. It belongs to the Cactaceae family, Cactoideae subfamily, and Trichocereeae tribe. The name accepted here follows the taxonomic criteria of Joël Lodé in Taxonomía de las Cactáceas, volumes III–VI, 2026 edition. Its historical synonyms include Pilocereus strausii Heese.
❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 8b–11b
Tolerates minimum temperatures down to −9 ºC, provided the specimen is acclimatized, completely dry, and protected from persistent moisture. In cold climates, it is advisable to keep it under cover during the winter, especially if grown in a pot.
☀️ Lighting
Requires very bright exposure, preferably in full sun. Insufficient light causes weaker stems, lower spine density, and poor flowering. As a guideline during active growth, a DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. Growth is concentrated mainly in spring and summer, when it should be watered abundantly but sparingly, allowing the substrate to dry out completely between waterings. In autumn, water intake is progressively reduced until it is kept dry during the winter. Cold and prolonged humidity can promote root rot.
🌸 Flowering
Mature specimens can produce, mainly in late spring and throughout the summer, tubular flowers in deep red to burgundy, about 5–6 cm long. The flowers barely open and protrude laterally through the dense covering of spines. After flowering, reddish, globose or pear-shaped fruits may form.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with a high content of assimilable calcium and low nitrogen levels, such as Desert CHOICE® Cactáceas, is recommended, applied once a month when watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Floración.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot, with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
📏 The sizes of our basic collection xerophytes are as follows:
S -> 9cm x 9cm
M-> 14cm x 14 cm
L->16cm x 16 cm
* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the sent specimen may vary slightly from the product image. The measurements of the plant are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly, because it is a living being! Each of the Desert CITY plants has unique characteristics.
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