Commonly known by its former scientific name "Hildewintera," this adorable cactus is often called the "cat's tail" thanks to its fluffy, fuzzy stems that hang down. One of its charms is the striking contrast of deep crimson flowers blooming from its pure white, cottony hairs. While these hairs look soft and fluffy, they're actually quite coarse, with a texture reminiscent of a capybara—but don't worry, they're not prickly when you pet them (though if you stroke them firmly against the grain, they can poke you).

Looking at images online, you might notice that some have long hairs and others have short, hinting at some variation. But if you check the DETAILS photos, you'll see a clear demonstration that "the length of the hairs depends on the growing environment." (In warm, bright places like a greenhouse, the hairs tend to grow longer; in chillier outdoor settings, they stay shorter—at least that's what it seems!). When I first got mine (see the MAIN image), it looked like a scrawny kitten, but after five or six years, it's turned into a robust, bristly beauty. Take your time and enjoy the journey! While a greenhouse environment might be ideal, mine lives outside all year round and handles it just fine—it seems to be tough against both heat and cold.

You'll find the golden, short-haired variety often labeled as "Golden Rat Tail Cactus," which is the basic type C. winteri ssp.winteri . The colademono subspecies can be told apart because, even when they're young, their stems droop rather than standing upright.

• Difficulty

  

• Popularity

  

• Rarity

  

• Budget

  6,800JPY