Silver Torch Cactus

Silver torch cactus brings a soft, silvery appearance to the desert garden, with slender upright stems wrapped in dense pale spines. Backlighting reveals the fine spines around each column—a detail captured here by Mark Miller at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage on October 14, 2026.

At a glance

• Plant group: Cactus; genus Cleistocactus
• Common species: Cleistocactus strausii, commonly called silver torch
• Local setting: Cultivated desert gardens, including Sunnylands
• Native status: An ornamental here; C. strausii is native to Bolivia, not the Coachella Valley
• Look for: Narrow, ribbed columns and dense white or silvery spines

How to recognize it

Unlike the rounded form of a golden barrel cactus or the broad pads of a prickly pear, silver torch forms slender cylindrical stems. The pale spines catch the light and can make the surface appear almost fuzzy. They are still sharp cactus spines, so enjoy the texture visually.

The familiar species Cleistocactus strausii produces upright stems that branch from the base and can bear narrow, rose-red tubular flowers along their sides. No flowers are visible in this photograph.

Silver torch at Sunnylands

Sunnylands identifies silver torch in its garden collection as Cleistocactus spp. and describes thin cylindrical stems covered in abundant spines. This photograph is consistent with that identification. The exact species of the photographed plant has not been confirmed from a plant label or garden accession record, so it is identified here at the genus level.

Growing considerations

For C. strausii, bright light and freely draining soil are important. Avoid persistently wet roots, and allow watering to follow the plant's growth and drying conditions. A cultivated specimen in the Coachella Valley may need a different exposure and watering routine from one grown in a cooler climate; consult a local cactus specialist when choosing a planting position.

Explore more

• Visit Sunnylands Center & Gardens
• Explore flora of the Coachella Valley
• Golden barrel cactus
• Organ pipe cactus

Sources

• Sunnylands: Cactus collection
• Royal Horticultural Society: Cleistocactus strausii
• Kew Plants of the World Online: Cleistocactus strausii

Photographed October 14, 2026. Sources checked October 14, 2026.