Cleistocactus winteri

RHS Plant Profile

golden rat tail

Other common names

gold-spined hildewintera, gold-spined winterocereus

Synonyms

Winterocereus aureispinus
Borzicactus aureispinus
Cleistocactus aureispinus
Hildewintera aureispina

Cactus Succulent

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A trailing cactus with cylindrical, fleshy stems to 1.5m long, densely covered with golden yellow, bristle-like spines. In summer it produces orange-red flowers to 5cm long. Best grown in a hanging basket in a conservatory or temperate greenhouse

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H2
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Cactaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Trailing
Genus: Cleistocactus are erect columnar cacti with ribbed, eventually branched, cylindrical stems bearing dense spines and tubular flowers
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Bolivia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in standard cactus compost in full light and with low humidity. In the growing season water moderately and apply a dilute low-nitrogen fertiliser monthly. Keep completely dry from mid-autumn to spring. See houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by stem cuttings in summer, or by seed sown in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Hanging Basket
Houseplants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to mealybugs

Diseases

May be susceptible to root rots