Varieties of Twisted Cactus

Cereus peruvianus tortuosus

• Often just called twisted or spiral cactus, this Cereus is a thick-stemmed beauty with ridges that twist around the trunk, giving it a spiral appearance. Sometimes the direction of the spiral will change mid-trunk. The white flowers emerge at night and can get to about 6 to 8 inches across. Sometimes these flowers have a slight pink blush. The reddish brown spines are about 1/2 to 2 inches long depending on the age of the cactus. It is certainly a curiosity.

Ferocactus herrerae

• The twisted barrel cactus is thick and thorny. It has hooked spines along its ridges, and the ridges twist gently around the truck. Twisting can be noticeable more with age, as the young plants may not reveal the pattern yet. The blossoms emerge from the top of the trunk and can be yellow to red, or yellow with a red tinge. Many short spines are grouped around 1 long, central, hooked one.

Eulychnia castanea spiralis

• This Eulychnia looks for all the world like someone tried to wring all the water out of it. Even from a young age it shows the spiral tendency. It's a columnar cactus with spines coming out of the seams rather than the high part of the ridge. The spines can be mighty, protruding straight out like a porcupine quill. The white flowers emerge from the top of the spiral or branch tip. It can get to about 3 feet tall.

Aloe polyphylla

• This aloe is a cousin to the well-known aloe vera. Many varieties of aloe are commonly called cacti, but are not scientifically classified as cacti. The spiral aloe isn't nearly as large as the aloe vera. It is small and squat, and the toothed leaves are short and arrowhead-like. They form along the trunk in a formal spiral pattern, which can be observed from both the sides and the top. The leaf colors can range from bright green to blue green.