Monkey's Tail Cactus

Monkey's Tail Cactus (Cleistocactus winteri subsp. colademononis) is a trailing cactus whose slim stems hang in a soft coat of golden or white hairs. It grows slowly to about 30cm long, which makes it a plant for a hanging basket, a pot or a rockery boulder rather than a garden bed. Mature plants that are happy produce satiny orange-red flowers.

Why you'll love it

• Looks like nothing else. Fine hairs cover the stems and give the impression of a monkey's tail. The hairs run golden on some plants and white on others.
• Made for baskets and pots. The stems cascade over the rim, so a hanging basket, a high shelf or a wall pot shows them off.
• Orange-red flowers. A mature, well grown plant opens satiny orange-red blooms, a surprise from a plant most people buy for its texture.
• Drought hardy. Dry spells suit it far better than wet ones, so a missed watering is forgiven.
• Slow and tidy. It grows slowly, so it stays where you put it for years without becoming a job.

Where it works best

Hanging baskets. One plant to a basket is plenty. Hang it where you can see the cascade, in full sun or part shade.

Indoor pots. A pot on a bright windowsill or shelf works well, with the stems trailing down the side.

Rockeries. Set it at the top of a boulder so the stems drop down the face. Allow about 30cm between plants.

Growing Monkey's Tail Cactus in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun or part shade, in a spot that drains freely. It is drought hardy but needs protection from frost, so in cold-winter gardens keep it in a pot that can come under cover. In humid subtropical gardens keep it out of constant rain.

Soil. Free-draining soil is the one rule. In a pot, use a cactus and succulent mix. In a rockery, plant into a gravelly pocket rather than heavy clay.

Water and feed. Water carefully in spring and summer: push your thumb into the soil and water only if it is dry. In winter the plant goes dormant, so cut watering back to about once a month.

Pruning. None needed. The fine hairs and prickles are irritating to handle, so wear gloves, or hold the plant in folded newspaper when you repot.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Monkey's Tail Cactus as tube stock, 140mm pots in packs of 10 and 300mm pots, sold singly. Tube stock is a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and it suits a basket or pot you plan to fill over time. The larger sizes carry more trailing growth from day one. Expect little visible change in the first few weeks, because a cactus settles its roots before it moves.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out on this page, and the notify button emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• More cacti for pots and sunny spots
• Rockery plants for free-draining gardens
• Using cactus in a water-saving garden
• Succulents and cacti together

Common questions

Can I grow it outside?

Yes, in a free-draining spot in full sun or part shade, including a rockery. Protect it from frost, and in wet climates give it a spot that stays out of constant rain. In cold gardens grow it in a pot and move it under cover in winter.

How often should I water it?

In spring and summer, push your thumb into the soil and water when it feels dry. In winter, when the plant is dormant, water about once a month. Too much water is the usual cause of loss.

How big will it get?

Slowly, to about 30cm long. The colour of the hairs and the amount of droop vary from plant to plant, so no two look quite the same.