Growth Habits: This plant if left to its own devices can take up a lot of room in the greenhouse or patio. The branches can sometimes grow upright but more often are prostrate. They can be up to 2 feet long (60 cm), 2 inches in diameter (5 cm). The rib count can be anything from 10 right up to 18 or 20. Radial spines are numerous and there is usually one or sometimes two central spines. The colour of the body depends upon the amount of sun the plant is receiving, but the colour in the photograph is a natural one to aim for.
Scientific name: Cleistocactus icosagonus
Common names: Not known.
Synonym: Cactus icosagonus, Cereus icosagonus, Borzicactus icosagonus, Binghamia icosagona, Seticereus icosagonus, Cactus humboldtii, Cereus humboldtii, Cleistocactus humboldtii, Borzicactus humboldtii, Binghamia humboldtii, Seticereus humboldtii, Matucana humboldtii, Cereus aurvillus, Borzicactus aurvillus, Seticereus aurvillus
Etymology: The name Cleistocactus comes from the Greek for 'closed cactus' This would appear to be a reference to the flowers that are long and tubular rather than open.
Origin: The plant is found in both southern Ecuador and Northern Peru
Light: The plant will take sunshine or light shade and the colour of the plants epidermis is a good indicator of whether it is getting too much sun or too little.
Compost: Normal cactus compost is adequate for this species. The plant is a reasonably heavy feeder for a cactus and will respond to good compost.
Water: It is quite safe to water this plant well during the summer months as long as adequate drainage is in place to take away the surplus water (the death knell for most cacti).
Flower: Flowers 3.2 inches (8 cm) in length, red; fruit 2 inches long (5 cm), yellow
Min. temp: This is one of those cacti that need a slightly warmer winter temperature. Around 50°f. (10°c) is adequate
Cultivation: The plant does not require any special treatment apart from keeping it tidy and perhaps staking some of the more horizontal branches, depending on how much room you can give it.
Habitat: Nothern Peru in particular is a veritable cornucopia of flora and fauna. The vegetation includes Tropical-alpine vegetation: grasslands, woodland patches, scrub, wetlands. The main threats to these areas are overgrazing, burning, erosion, gathering fuel wood and pollution from mining.
Comments: Not an outstanding looking cacti, in fact one that looks very much like several others species, but if you can allow the plant to grow to its full potential it then becomes a sight to behold with its trumpet shaped flowers appearing usually towards the top third of the branches.