Strange asymmetrically tuberculate stems that grow in tall columns or twist and wind around each other like snakes.
 

Description: Columnar cactus that cluster from the base and form  sculptural  succulent bushes.
Areoles: Irregular sometime fused to form horizontal lines, Spines: Scarce fine bristly spines.
Flowers: This plant is a heavy bloomer and will profusely produce nice tubular orange-red flowers thought out the summer.
 

Cultural Practices: It is of easy culture, and requires full sun or half shade.  It needs a well-drained soil mix.  Water generously during the summer, but allow to dry fully before watering again.  During the winter months plants should be rather kept dry.  Since they are rapid growers they need plenty of space for their roots. Repotting should be done every other year, or when the plant has outgrown its pot.

Propagation: It is propagated by cuttings, as its branches and offsets are readily available, If you remove an offset, remember to let it dry for a week or so, letting the wound heal (cuttings planted to soon easily rot before they can grow roots). Rooting usually occurs within  3-5  weeks.

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of  plants belonging to the Cleistocactus strausii complex.

• Cleistocactus strausii
• Cleistocactus strausii cristata
• Cleistocactus jujuyensis forma mostruosa (C. strausii f. mostruosa)
• Cleistocactus jujuyensis forma mostruosa cristata (C. strausii f. mostruosa cristata)

Scientific name:  Cleistocactus jujuyensis f. monstrosa

Origin:  Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

• Cleistocactus strausii forma mostruosa
• Cleistocactus hyalacanthus "monstrous form”

Sometime areoles merge to form horizontal lines