Light
Direct Sun
The live `direct_sun` operational enum is preserved; acclimate gradually and monitor sun scorch, temperature and airflow along trailing stems.
Reference imageCleistocactus winteri
Golden Rat Tail Cactus
Cleistocactus winteri identity and care summary
Cleistocactus winteri is a Cleistocactus recorded as a succulent subshrub or lithophyte. Long trailing stems, dense golden-yellow spination, areole pattern, tubular flowers, fruit, seeds and documented provenance should be evaluated together. Identity should not be settled from a sales label or one photograph; stem orientation, ribs, areoles, spines, flowers, fruit, seeds and documented provenance should be evaluated together.12
Root zone, medium and watering
Use a fast-draining mineral-rich mix that does not retain prolonged moisture around the roots, and choose a stable container for trailing stems. Do not use a fixed-day calendar; water in a controlled cycle after the pot profile and root zone have dried, and extend the interval substantially in cool or low-light periods. A dry-looking surface is insufficient; inspect the lower and central pot profile as well. Leave no standing water after irrigation. After repotting, allow injured roots time to dry and callus.
Do not test low temperature with wet roots during a cool rest. Evaluate wrinkling, soft tissue, colour change and root odour together; attempts to force rapid growth in a continuously wet organic medium increase rot risk.
Light, temperature and observation
The live direct_sun operational enum is preserved; acclimate gradually and monitor sun scorch, temperature and airflow along trailing stems. The operational enum is not a laboratory light threshold; airflow, heat behind glass, season and previous cultivation conditions alter the outcome. Increase light over several weeks.
The current Kew surface maintains seven homotypic historical combinations. They share one nomenclatural type and are not separate accepted-species routes. Cleistocactus colademononis is separately accepted in the current Kew backbone; a trailing habit or monkey-tail trade label is not a reason to move it into the winteri synonym set.
Safety and conservation
The live caution field is preserved as an operational carry-forward; use protective tools around dense spines and do not ingest the plant. The global conservation field is EN.3 The live LC value is corrected to the maintained global IUCN EN. Endangered concerns evidence about wild populations, not retail stock. Prefer documented legal nursery propagation and do not encourage wild collection.
References
- Plants of the World Online. “Cleistocactus winteri D.R.Hunt” Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Accessed: 2026-08-07. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn%3Alsid%3Aipni.org%3Anames%3A941076-1 ↩
- Lowry, M. “A synopsis of the genus Cleistocactus Lemaire (Cactaceae).” Bradleya 34: 148–186. Accessed: 2026-08-07. https://doi.org/10.25223/brad.n34.2016.a6 ↩
- IUCN Red List. “Cleistocactus winteri global conservation assessment.” Accessed: 2026-08-07. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/151756/558142 ↩
- International Plant Names Index. “Cleistocactus winteri.” Accessed: 2026-08-07. https://www.ipni.org/n/941076-1 ↩
Watering
12-45 Days
Do not use a fixed-day calendar; water in a controlled cycle after the pot profile and root zone have dried, and extend the interval substantially in cool or low-light periods.
Soil
Well-draining cactus and succulent mix
Use a fast-draining mineral-rich mix that does not retain prolonged moisture around the roots, and choose a stable container for trailing stems.
Safety
Contact/Ingestion Risk
The live `caution` field is preserved as an operational carry-forward; use protective tools around dense spines and do not ingest the plant.
Difficulty
Easy
Live operational care class: easy.
Native Habitat
Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Santa Cruz, Bolivia.[^1] [^1]: Plants of the World Online. “Cleistocactus winteri D.R.Hunt” Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Accessed: 2026-08-07. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn%3Alsid%3Aipni.org%3Anames%3A941076-1 [^2]: International Plant Names Index. “Cleistocactus winteri.” Accessed: 2026-08-07. https://www.ipni.org/n/941076-1 [^3]: Lowry, M. “A synopsis of the genus Cleistocactus Lemaire (Cactaceae).” Bradleya 34: 148–186. Accessed: 2026-08-07. https://doi.org/10.25223/brad.n34.2016.a6 [^4]: IUCN Red List. “Cleistocactus winteri global conservation assessment.” Accessed: 2026-08-07. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/151756/558142
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the accepted name?
Cleistocactus winteri D.R.Hunt
What is its native range?
Santa Cruz, Bolivia
How often is it watered?
There is no fixed interval; water after the pot profile and root zone have dried.
What medium is suitable?
Use a fast-draining mineral-rich mix that does not retain prolonged moisture around the roots, and choose a stable container for trailing stems.
What light is suitable?
The live `direct_sun` operational enum is preserved; acclimate gradually and monitor sun scorch, temperature and airflow along trailing stems.
Are synonyms separate species routes?
No; they are nomenclatural names related to the same accepted species in the maintained backbone.
Does one photograph prove identity?
No; stem orientation, ribs, areoles, spines, flowers, fruit, seeds and provenance must be evaluated together.
Is conservation status based on retail stock?
No; global conservation status concerns evidence about wild populations, not commercial inventory.
