Cleistocactus Species, Silver Torch

I purchased three C. hyalacanthus plants from one of Tucson's oldest and most knowledgeable cactus nurseries in the autumn of 2008. My ga...Read Morerden is in Green Valley, AZ which is zone 9A and situated in the Sonora Desert. The Cleistocactus hyalacanthus have been splendid. They have grown rapidly and have bloomed non-stop since early February. The flowers have continued the entire spring and summer despite July's 105 degree heat.They continue to bloom in mid August. The hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers but do prefer the surrounding salvia and my wife's hummingbird feeders. The pollinated flowers yield a beautiful spherical dayglow pink fruit about 1.5 cm in diameter. There has been minimal packrat damage which is a significant problem with the less spiney cacti species in this area. This is one of my favorite cacti. The specimen situated in full sun has bloomed continually into mid December ( since Feb ).

The stiffer spines are mixed with the softer hair-like spines that make it look really spiney from a distance.
This needs water du...Read Morering the summer in Phoenix.

Intensely spiny cactus, but looks really great with the light behind it. Nice, hummingbird-attracting flower,s too.