Cleisto cactus ‘ Torch Cactus’ — A column of sunlight dressed in silver.

With slender stems covered in silky spines and bursts of crimson flowers, this cactus looks perpetually caught in golden hour. Upright and unbothered, it’s a vertical spark in desert gardens and containers alike.

Plant Details:

• Water Needs: Very low; water only when soil is completely dry

• Sun Needs: Full sun to bright light

• Soil Requirements: Fast-draining cactus mix

• Growing Zone: USDA Zones 8b–11

• Cold Hardiness: To ~20°F

• Mature Size: 3–10 ft tall × 1–2 ft wide (varies by species)

• Native Origin: Andes Mountains, Bolivia & Argentina

• Best Substitutes For: Espostoa, Trichocereus

• Landscape Uses: Containers, vertical accents, xeric displays