Cleistocactus strausii, commonly known as the silver torch cactus, is native to the high-altitude regions of the central Andes. This cactus forms tall, slender columns that can reach up to 10 feet in height, covered in dense white hairs and golden spines that give it a silvery appearance. The protective hairs are an adaptation to the intense sunlight and cold nighttime temperatures of its Andean habitat. The flowers of Cleistocactus strausii are narrow and tubular, typically 2 to 3 inches long, and range in color from deep red to orange, though cultivated specimens have produced shades of yellow like the one pictured. These flowers emerge horizontally from the sides of the stems and often remain partially closed. The species is grown as an ornamental cactus. Photographed in Peru.