Due to its ease of cultivation and attractive floral displays, it is often grown as an ornamental potted plant.

Flowers zygomorphic, 7–10 cm long, 2-4 (-7,5) cm wide, limb bilaterally symmetric, oblique, diurnal, open for 3–5 days, scentless; pericarpel greenish with acute bracteoles; receptacle 3 cm, long, curved just above pericarpel, bracteoles, brownish, acute; outer tepals linear-lanceolate, ± reflexed, 2–3 cm long, 6 mm wide, crimson; inner tepals narrowly oblong, to 10 mm wide, crimson, sometimes passing to pink along the margins; stamens white to pale pink, erect, exserted; style stigma lobes 5-7, white Fruit globose, 10–12 mm long, red, bristly, pulp yellowish; seeds ovoid, brownish red.

The Latin specific epithet flagelliformis means "shaped like a whip", in reference to the long shoots.

Rattail cacti are very easy to grow, being suitable for a greenhouse and container, indoors or out.

Once the plants are established, the compost should be kept moist from April to October; less water is required from November until March, just enough to keep the stems from dying back.