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Cylindropuntia imbricata var. imbricata (Cane cactus)
Bettinger, Edith

Cylindropuntia imbricata var. imbricata (Haw.) F.M. Knuth

Cane cactus, Cholla, Teddy-bear cholla, Tree cholla, Walkingstick cholla

Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

USDA Symbol: CYIMI

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Tree cholla grows tall and upright, sometimes bushy but usually treelike, 3-8 ft. in height. The main trunk in round and can reach 3-4 in. in diameter with age. The spiny stems are jointed and cylindrical. Large, showy flowers open out wide and are reddish-purple in color. Fruits ripen from green to rose to yellow.

This is the first bush-like or tree-like Cholla (pronounced CHOY-yah) encountered when traveling from the East to the Southwest. Near the Rio Grande other species appear, and in Arizona there are many, making identification more difficult. Once the flesh has weathered away, their woody stems are hollow, with many holes, and are popular souvenirs.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub , Cactus/Succulent
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Size Notes: 6-10 feet
Flower: Flowers 3 inches
Fruit: Yellow 2 inches long
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink
Bloom Time: May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , KS , NM , OK , TX , UT
Native Distribution: W. KS & CO, s. to Mex.
Native Habitat: Mesas; deserts
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Sandy or gravelly soils. Limestone-based, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Caliche type
Conditions Comments: Pronounced choy-ya. Slow grower but eventually gets shrubby or tree-shaped. Woody stems appear braided and the yellow fruit are showy. Dead stems have interesting skeletons once the soft tissue has decomposed away. These are often used as souvenirs. Provide good drainage. Caution: has sharp spines.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Showy, Planned landscape, Desert landscape, Blooms ornamental, Fruits ornamental
Use Wildlife: Nectar-insects, Nectar-bees, Nesting site, Fruit-birds
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Deer Resistant: High

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Bibliography

Bibref 355 - Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Cylindropuntia imbricata var. imbricata in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Cylindropuntia imbricata var. imbricata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Cylindropuntia imbricata var. imbricata

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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