The rat tail cactus (Aporocactus flagelliformis) is a showy cactus native to southwestern Mexico and parts of Central America. It is distinctive for its long, trailing stems, which grow to about 4 feet at maturity and give the plant its nickname. Rat’s tail cactus flowers in spring and early summer, and its blooms are usually violet-red; however, the plant will sometimes grow flowers in idiosyncratic colors like pink and orange. Its flowers are tubular and fairly large, about 2 inches wide. Though it produces quite a few flowers during its bloom in the late spring, each flower only lives for a couple of days at most
The rat tail cactus displays best when grown in a hanging basket. This plant is drought-tolerant and can survive long periods with little care. If you repot it annually and give it lots of nutrients, it should produce pleasant pink blooms in spring. This is a cactus that thrives in desert conditions: bright, direct sunlight year-round will help it thrive. Place it in a south- or west-facing window to receive direct sun.
