{"product_id":"silver-torch-cactus","title":"Silver Torch Cactus","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSilver torch cactus\u003c\/strong\u003e 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 \u003ca href=\"\/products\/sunnylands\"\u003eSunnylands in Rancho Mirage\u003c\/a\u003e on October 14, 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant group:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cactus; genus \u003cem\u003eCleistocactus\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon species:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eCleistocactus strausii\u003c\/em\u003e, commonly called silver torch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLocal setting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cultivated desert gardens, including Sunnylands\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative status:\u003c\/strong\u003e An ornamental here; \u003cem\u003eC. strausii\u003c\/em\u003e is native to Bolivia, not the Coachella Valley\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLook for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Narrow, ribbed columns and dense white or silvery spines\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to recognize it\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnlike the rounded form of a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/golden-barrel-cactus\"\u003egolden barrel cactus\u003c\/a\u003e or the broad pads of a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prickly-pear-cactus\"\u003eprickly pear\u003c\/a\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe familiar species \u003cem\u003eCleistocactus strausii\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSilver torch at Sunnylands\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSunnylands identifies silver torch in its garden collection as \u003cem\u003eCleistocactus\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing considerations\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor \u003cem\u003eC. strausii\u003c\/em\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eExplore more\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/sunnylands\"\u003eVisit Sunnylands Center \u0026amp; Gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/flora\"\u003eExplore flora of the Coachella Valley\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/golden-barrel-cactus\"\u003eGolden barrel cactus\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/organ-pipe-cactus\"\u003eOrgan pipe cactus\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSources\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sunnylands.org\/cactus\/\"\u003eSunnylands: Cactus collection\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.rhs.org.uk\/plants\/3913\/cleistocactus-strausii\/details\"\u003eRoyal Horticultural Society: Cleistocactus strausii\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/powo.science.kew.org\/taxon\/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60254-2\"\u003eKew Plants of the World Online: Cleistocactus strausii\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003ePhotographed October 14, 2026. Sources checked October 14, 2026.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Desert Oasis Insider","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67808310755609,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0868\/6813\/2121\/files\/silver-torch-cactus-sunnylands-rancho-mirage-2026-10-14.jpg?v=1792025456","url":"https:\/\/desertoasisinsider.shop\/products\/silver-torch-cactus","provider":"Desert Oasis Insider","version":"1.0","type":"link"}