rat tail cactus
Aporocactus flagelliformis
RHS AGM 2002
USDA zones10 to 11
SunHandles full sun to partial sun
WaterNeeds dry soil
Size3 to 6 feet tall
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn, winter
- Soil types
- Sand, loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Rat tail cactus (Aporocactus flagelliformis) is a succulent for containers and low maintenance gardens. It grows outdoors year-round in USDA zone 10 and warmer, down to about 30°F (-1°C). In colder areas, grow it as a houseplant or bring it indoors for winter. This plant likes full or part sun and dry, sandy or loamy soil. It sits low on the menu for deer and rabbits. Hummingbirds and bees visit the flowers of this evergreen, drought tolerant plant.
Pairs well with Cleveland sage, Purple needle grass, and California aster.
Native range
North America.