Cleistocactus winteri is a branching cactus with cylindrical trailing or pendant stems covered with many short golden spines. The stems grow up to 40 inches (1 m) long and up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. Flowers are vivid orange to salmon-pink, up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) long, up to 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter. They are repetitively and freely produced on mature plants from spring to summer and can last several days.