Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Golden Torch
Golden Torch is an upright column cactus from Argentina and Bolivia, with many lime-green stems lined with golden spines. It branches from the base into a clump about 5 to 7 feet tall and stays narrow, so it fits small spaces, raised planters and large pots. In late spring it opens huge white flowers, 6 to 8 inches across, that bloom through the night and into the next morning. It needs little water once rooted.
Best for: narrow spaces and raised planters, large patio containers, and rock gardens grouped with boulders.
It grows 5 to 7 feet tall but only 1 to 3 feet wide. It fits confined spots and looks good against a tall wall.
It grows well in raised planters and large patio containers. Plants in pots need water more often than plants in the ground.
In late spring it opens white flowers 6 to 8 inches across. They open in the evening and last until about noon the next day.
It is hardy to about 20 to 25°F and does not like long frosts, so cover it on cold nights. Too much water causes rot, so let the soil dry between waterings.
Wait about a week after planting before the first water. Then water every other week while nights stay above 60°F. In cooler weather, water only after two to four weeks without rain.
Water deeply in the warm months only when the soil is dry, and give little or none in winter. Plants in pots dry out faster and need water more often than plants in the ground.
Plant it with the same side facing the sun as in the nursery. Cover a new plant with light shade cloth its first summer, then remove it.
Below about 20 to 25°F, frost can scar the stem tips. Cover the tips with foam cups or frost cloth that reaches the ground, not plastic. Take covers off in the morning.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does Golden Torch get?
It grows about 5 to 7 feet tall, sometimes up to 10, and only 1 to 3 feet wide. It branches from the base into a clump, so it fits a narrow spot.
When does it bloom?
It blooms in late spring. The white flowers are 6 to 8 inches across, open in the evening and stay open until about noon the next day. Check it in the early morning to see them.
Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes, it does well in large containers and raised planters. Give it a pot with room for its height, and water it more often than plants in the ground.
How often should I water it?
It is drought tolerant but likes moderate water in hot, dry summers. Let the soil dry between waterings and never overwater.
Does it need full sun?
It grows in full sun or part shade. A newly planted cactus can sunburn its first summer, so shade it lightly that first year.
Is it cold hardy?
It is hardy to about 20 to 25°F and does not like long frosts. Cover it on cold nights.
Why is it called Golden Torch?
The lime-green stems are lined with golden spines. The spines turn gray as the plant ages.
How do I grow one from a cutting?
Cuttings root well, so this is an easy way to start more. Let the cut end dry and seal, then plant it in dry cactus soil.
Golden Torch for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Golden Torch, sold as Trichocereus or Echinopsis spachiana, is a slim, upright column cactus with gold spines and giant white flowers. It fits small spaces and large pots. Below are the questions Valley homeowners ask most, with what to do for each.
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Golden Torch cactus in Phoenix
Golden Torch is a slim column cactus with lime-green stems and gold spines. It suits narrow spaces, planters and pots.
How tall Golden Torch gets
It grows about 5 to 7 feet tall, sometimes 10, and 1 to 3 feet wide. It grows slowly, so a larger size gives you height sooner.
Golden Torch flowers
Huge white flowers, 6 to 8 inches across, open on late spring evenings and last into the next morning.
Watering Golden Torch
Give it moderate water in hot, dry summers and let the soil dry between waterings. Overwatering causes rot, so never keep the soil wet.
Frost care for Golden Torch
It is hardy to about 20 to 25°F. Cover it with frost cloth during long cold spells.
Golden Torch in containers
It grows well in large pots and raised planters. Use a sandy, fast-draining mix and a pot with a drainage hole.
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