Cholla Cacti Variants
Cholla Cactus
The Cholla Cactus, belonging to the genus Cylindropuntia, is a fascinating and often formidable group of cacti iconic to the arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. These resilient long-lived perennials, capable of living for 30 years or more, are perfectly adapted to hot, dry climates, thriving in well-drained soils, rocky areas, desert slopes, flatlands, and dry washes.
Distinguished from other cacti by their cylindrical, segmented stems (rather than flattened pads like prickly pears), Chollas vary greatly in size and form, ranging from low-growing shrubs to tall, tree-like structures. A defining characteristic is the presence of barbed spines, which are often covered by a papery sheath and are notoriously easy to detach from the plant, earning some species the nickname “jumping cholla.” These segments can readily root, allowing the plant to spread vegetatively. Chollas produce striking, cup-shaped flowers in a variety of colors, including yellow, pink, purple, and orange, typically blooming in spring and early summer. The fruits that follow are often fleshy and provide a vital food source for desert wildlife.
Here are some notable subspecies of Cholla Cactus:
Chain Fruit Cholla (Jumping Cholla)
The Chain Fruit Cholla, Cylindropuntia fulgida, is perhaps the most infamous of the chollas, widely known as the “Jumping Cholla” due to the ease with which its barbed segments detach and adhere to anything that brushes against them. Native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona and Sonora, Mexico, it forms shrub-like to small tree-like plants, often reaching 13 feet in height. Its light green, tuberculate stems are densely covered with silvery-yellow spines that darken with age. A unique characteristic is its chains of fruit, which often remain on the plant for years, with new flowers and fruits developing from old ones, creating hanging chains of green, pear-shaped, often spineless fruits. Its flowers are typically white to pink, streaked with lavender, blooming in mid-summer.
Teddy Bear Cholla
The Teddy Bear Cholla, Cylindropuntia bigelovii, is a striking species named for its seemingly soft, fuzzy appearance from a distance, which belies its very sharp and strongly barbed spines. Growing as a miniature tree, often 1-5 feet tall with a distinct trunk, it is native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts in California, Arizona, and northwestern Mexico. Its dense, short, stubby branches are completely covered with pale golden to silvery-white spines, giving it its characteristic “teddy bear” look. Yellow-green flowers with lavender streaks are produced, ripening into spineless fruits that often lack fertile seeds. Like other chollas, its segments readily detach, aiding in its dispersal.
Staghorn Cholla
The Staghorn Cholla, Cylindropuntia versicolor, is admired for its often vibrantly colored stems and flowers. Native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona and parts of Mexico, it grows as a shrub or small tree, reaching up to 10 feet tall, with acutely branching segments that resemble deer antlers. Its stems can vary widely in color, from green to purple, red, or even brown, especially when stressed. The plant produces 1.5-inch flowers that are remarkably variable in color, ranging from yellow-green, yellow, orange, red, to pink or purple, adding a dynamic splash to the landscape. Its fruits are barrel-shaped and often purplish, turning yellow-brown with age.
Cane Cholla (Tree Cholla)
The Cane Cholla, Cylindropuntia imbricata, also known as Tree Cholla, is one of the more cold-hardy species, found across a wide range including southwestern United States (e.g., Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona) and northern Mexico, often in grasslands and semi-deserts. It forms a robust, tree-like structure, reaching up to 10 feet tall, with a woody main trunk and stout, cylindrical, jointed stems. Its stems have prominent tubercles (raised humps) giving them a “rope-like” or “shingled” appearance. The Cane Cholla produces large, showy, reddish-purple to magenta flowers and distinctive yellowish, often spiny, barrel-shaped fruits that can persist on the plant. The woody skeletons of its stems were historically used as walking sticks or for crafting, giving it the “cane” name.