The Monkey Tail Plant

These fast growing cactus are highly sought after for their ornamental qualities and easy care.
The ribbed, fleshy, mid green stems have a dense covering of gold to silver spikes. This makes them look soft, and hairy like a monkey’s tail, but don’t be fooled! The stems will grow upright at first, then, as they mature they will become pendent. Eventually, and with the right care the stems will extend and cross over and form a most wonderful cacophony of branching. Some up, some down, some over, some under etc. Each stem is around 2.5cm across at maturity.
The flowers are a bright, salmon red and can grow up to 5cm across. They open along the stems in the warmer months of spring and sum. Each blooms lasts for three or more days. The flowers are best when they have had a bit of cool winter weather.
Indoors grow in a bright light position in a cactus/succulent potting mix. In pots they also grow well in full sun to part shade in cool to sub tropical zones. Hanging baskets are also a great option. Outdoors, in areas that are frost free it can be grown as a ground cover in a full sun to semi shade position in sharply drained soil.
The Monkey Tail Plant has had a few botanical name changes over the years. It is now known as Cleistocactus winteri . Previously it was Hilderwintera aureispina, Winteria aureispinar and Winterocereus aueispinus.

Supplied as: Pots