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More Genus
Chollas (Cylindropuntia)
A group of branching cacti with sharply barbed spines, chollas are native to the Americas and West Indies. They are sometimes used as a impassable hedge, or as a feature in cactus gardens. Primarily, however, these plants are harvested, shaved, and dried into cholla wood, a water- and rot-resistant wood often used in terrariums or pet habitats. 
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Succulent
Key Facts About Chollas
Feedback
Attributes of Chollas
Plant Height
50 cm
Spread
50 cm
Leaf type
Evergreen
Ideal Temperature
20 - 41 ℃
Scientific Classification of Chollas
Phylum
Vascular plants
Class
Dicotyledons
Order
Pinks, cacti, and allies
Family
Cactuses
Genus
Chollas
Distribution of Chollas
Feedback
Distribution Map of Chollas
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Chollas
Feedback
Chollas is notable for its resilience and unique appearance, demanding minimal care. These plants thrive in full sun and require well-draining soil, typically a sandy or gravelly mix. Watering should be infrequent, allowing the soil to dry out between sessions; overwatering is a common pitfall. Chollas is adapted to warm temperatures and can endure short cold spells, but should be protected from extended frosts. Common challenges include rot, pests like spider mites, and overhydration. Seasonally, chollas benefits from less frequent watering in winter and may need shade or extra water during extreme summer heat.
How to Water Chollas?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Chollas?
How to Propagate Chollas?
How to Plant Chollas?
Exploring the Chollas Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Tree cholla
Tree cholla (Cylindropuntia imbricata) is a cactus tree that grows from 91 to 152 cm tall. Grows in full sun and requires well-drained soil. Tree cholla flower buds are edible and can be dried, boiled or roasted and eaten much like okra. Yellow fruits ripen in winter and can be eaten raw or cooked into preserves, like other berries.
Wiggins' cholla
The wiggins' cholla is a cactus plant that mainly inhabits deserted areas in the United States and Mexico. It has highly decorative yellow and yellow-green flowers and dense, neatly arranged white to tan colored spines. Wiggins' cholla serves as a bird's nesting site and is ideal for desert and Mediterranean gardens.
Jumping cholla
With its unusual growth form and branches densely covered with spines, jumping cholla looks like a tree-cactus. At the end of each stem hangs a fleshy fruit, which becomes spineless over time and can remain attached to the stem for several years.
Cane Cholla
The cane Cholla branches like a tree, but it is actually a type of cactus. It grows best in dry, sunny environments - particularly the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. It grows fruit that are eaten by deer and sheep. It is also used in ceremonies by the indigenous Zuni people.
Teddy bear cholla
Teddy bear cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii) is a perennial succulent that commonly grows in sandy flats, rocky washes and deserts. It blooms in spring with lime green flowers with lavender petals. Spiny stem segments easily detach and fall to the ground, where they root to form new plants. Its stems appear soft and fuzzy like a teddy bear, but the spikes covering the branches are sharp.
Buck-horn cholla
Buck-horn cholla (Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa) is widespread across the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. It is a branching woody cactus that can grow up to 3 m tall. The flowers range in color from yellow to red, and the oval fruit is covered in barbed spines. It provides a good nesting site for birds, as the spines protect them from predators.
Staghorn cholla
Staghorn cholla (Cylindropuntia versicolor) is an upright, branched cactus with slender green or purple stems. It is native to North America, from southern Arizona to Mexico. The barbed spines hook onto fur, skin, and clothing. The flowers are found in a wide range of colors, including red, purple, yellow, and bronze. The reddish purple fruit is tough and inedible.
Pencil cholla
Pencil cholla is a bush-shaped cactus native to the deserts of the southern and western United States. It produces small orange or pink flowers. It has sparse spines but because this cactus is difficult to spot, it often catches passersby unawares.
All Species of Chollas
Tree cholla
Tree cholla
Tree cholla (Cylindropuntia imbricata) is a cactus tree that grows from 91 to 152 cm tall. Grows in full sun and requires well-drained soil. Tree cholla flower buds are edible and can be dried, boiled or roasted and eaten much like okra. Yellow fruits ripen in winter and can be eaten raw or cooked into preserves, like other berries.
Wiggins' cholla
Wiggins' cholla
The wiggins' cholla is a cactus plant that mainly inhabits deserted areas in the United States and Mexico. It has highly decorative yellow and yellow-green flowers and dense, neatly arranged white to tan colored spines. Wiggins' cholla serves as a bird's nesting site and is ideal for desert and Mediterranean gardens.
Jumping cholla
Jumping cholla
With its unusual growth form and branches densely covered with spines, jumping cholla looks like a tree-cactus. At the end of each stem hangs a fleshy fruit, which becomes spineless over time and can remain attached to the stem for several years.
Cane Cholla
Cane Cholla
The cane Cholla branches like a tree, but it is actually a type of cactus. It grows best in dry, sunny environments - particularly the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. It grows fruit that are eaten by deer and sheep. It is also used in ceremonies by the indigenous Zuni people.
Teddy bear cholla
Teddy bear cholla
Teddy bear cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii) is a perennial succulent that commonly grows in sandy flats, rocky washes and deserts. It blooms in spring with lime green flowers with lavender petals. Spiny stem segments easily detach and fall to the ground, where they root to form new plants. Its stems appear soft and fuzzy like a teddy bear, but the spikes covering the branches are sharp.
Buck-horn cholla
Buck-horn cholla
Buck-horn cholla (Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa) is widespread across the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. It is a branching woody cactus that can grow up to 3 m tall. The flowers range in color from yellow to red, and the oval fruit is covered in barbed spines. It provides a good nesting site for birds, as the spines protect them from predators.
Staghorn cholla
Staghorn cholla
Staghorn cholla (Cylindropuntia versicolor) is an upright, branched cactus with slender green or purple stems. It is native to North America, from southern Arizona to Mexico. The barbed spines hook onto fur, skin, and clothing. The flowers are found in a wide range of colors, including red, purple, yellow, and bronze. The reddish purple fruit is tough and inedible.
Pencil cholla
Pencil cholla
Pencil cholla is a bush-shaped cactus native to the deserts of the southern and western United States. It produces small orange or pink flowers. It has sparse spines but because this cactus is difficult to spot, it often catches passersby unawares.
Coastal cholla
Coastal cholla
Coastal cholla (Cylindropuntia prolifera) is a shrub cactus species native to California. Coastal cholla grows in coastal sage scrub, chaparral, beach and bluff habitats. This species is very prominent in Santa Barbara County.
Whipple cholla
Whipple cholla
The whipple cholla is a member of the cactus family indigenous to the western United States. Traditionally, this plant was an important food source for the Zuni people of New Mexico, who would cut the spines off the fruit and dry it out. This dried fruit helped them to survive the winter. The genus name of "Cylindropuntia whipplei" honors Amiel Weeks Whipple, a 19th-century surveyor and engineer.
Pencil cholla
Pencil cholla
Another name for pencil cholla (Cylindropuntia arbuscula) is Arizona pencil cholla because it’s indigenous to Arizona in the American Southwest. This cactus holds up particularly well under extremes of heat or cold and has minimal water needs. Chollas are the only cacti with paper-like sheaths over their spines.
Gander's buckhorn cholla
Gander's buckhorn cholla
Gander's buckhorn cholla (Cylindropuntia ganderi) is indigenous to southwestern North America. This species used to be considered a subgenus of “Opuntia,” but no longer. That’s because “cylindropuntia” has cylindrical stems (as indicated in the name), while “opuntia” has flattened stems.
Desert christmas cactus
Desert christmas cactus
Desert christmas cactus (Cylindropuntia leptocaulis) is a wild cactus that will grow from 30 to 183 cm tall. Yellow flowers open in late afternoon and close the following morning. Red berries ripen in winter. Fruits were crushed and used for their intoxicating effects by different Native American tribes. Its interwoven branches can provide a nesting site for small animals.
Thistle cholla
Thistle cholla
Thistle cholla (Cylindropuntia tunicata) is a cactus found in North America's Chihuahuan Desert and several desert areas in South America. Its branching lobes sprout atop a woody stem and are covered in a dense tangle of spines. Thistle cholla is considered one of the most dangerous types of cactus because of the sheer number of sharp spines that attach themselves to whatever touches them.
Bald cholla
Bald cholla
Bald cholla (Cylindropuntia cholla) is a species of cactus that is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Like other chollas, bald cholla is notable for its barbed spines that readily attach to skin or fur. It is in the same family as the ironically named teddy-bear cholla.
Candle cholla
Candle cholla
Candle cholla (Cylindropuntia kleiniae) is a desert-loving cactus. The plant's pretty pink flowers bloom in late spring and early summer. This cactus is so similar to other members of its family that many botanists believe more work is needed to correctly divide and differentiate between species.
Jumping cholla
Jumping cholla
Jumping cholla is a resilient cactus with a branching, tree-like structure, often reaching impressive sizes. Its segmented stems are known for cylindrical segments that resemble cholla covered in dense spines that can appear pinkish in hue. Preferring arid desert environments, jumping cholla's spines provide defense and reduce water loss, enabling it to thrive in harsh conditions.
Wolf's opuntia
Wolf's opuntia
Wolf's opuntia is a spiny shrub distinctive for its cylindrical, jointed stems that may grow vertically or sprawl across the ground. These stems are typically covered in dense, sharp spines, well-suited for deterring herbivores in its arid native habitat. Small, colorful blooms may adorn the plant, offering a stark contrast to its formidable defenses.
Kelvin pricklypear
Kelvin pricklypear
Kelvin pricklypear is a resilient cactus with a distinctive upright growth pattern, forming dense, spiny clusters that can reach several meters high. Its cylindrical, jointed stems are covered with fierce spines, an adaptation to deter herbivores in its arid desert habitat. The plant blooms with vivid flowers that contrast its tough exterior, signaling a strategic adaptation to attract pollinators in a sparse environment.
Hoffmann's teddybear cholla
Hoffmann's teddybear cholla
Hoffmann's teddybear cholla is a very localized cholla that is found only in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California. The plant's charming common name refers to its fine furry-looking spines that resemble a teddy bear's fur. This plant can be recognized from other species because of the slight pink coloration of its spines.
Jumping cholla
Jumping cholla
Jumping cholla is a visually striking cactus with a branching, tree-like form reaching heights of up to 3 meters. Its cylindrical stems are densely covered with clusters of spiny, barbed bristles designed for water conservation and defense. Vibrant pink fruits adorn the cactus and persist on the stems, providing a stark contrast to its green-gray color. Thriving in arid climates, jumping cholla has adapted to conserve vital resources, a testament to its resilience in harsh desert environments.
Cylindropuntia thurberi
Cylindropuntia thurberi
Cylindropuntia thurberi is a spiky, desert-dwelling cactus with cylindrical green stems that branch upward. Its surface is armored with clusters of long, sharp spines to deter herbivores. During the warmer months, cylindropuntia thurberi produces vivid magenta flowers that crown its tips, followed by dry spiny fruits, adapted to its arid habitat. This imposing cactus serves not only as home to various desert wildlife but also as a stoic symbol of resilience in harsh conditions.
Cylindropuntia alcahes
Cylindropuntia alcahes
Cylindropuntia alcahes is a spiny, perennial shrub common to the arid regions of the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. Its cylindrical, segmented stems provide a distinctive silhouette, while vivid yellow flowers bloom under the intense desert sun. Adapted to scarce water, cylindropuntia alcahes often forms dense thickets, offering shelter and sustenance to desert wildlife.
California cholla
California cholla
California cholla is a hardy cactus native to Californian deserts, known for its cylindrically jointed stems, which are covered in dense spines, providing defense and shade. These protective spines reflect the plant’s adaptation to intense sunlight and predation. Blooming with vivid flowers, california cholla thrives in arid conditions, its segmented growth allowing for easy propagation, necessary for survival in harsh environments.
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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About
Key Facts
Distribution
How To Care
All Species
More Genus
Chollas
Cylindropuntia
A group of branching cacti with sharply barbed spines, chollas are native to the Americas and West Indies. They are sometimes used as a impassable hedge, or as a feature in cactus gardens. Primarily, however, these plants are harvested, shaved, and dried into cholla wood, a water- and rot-resistant wood often used in terrariums or pet habitats.
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Succulent
Key Facts About Chollas
Feedback
Attributes of Chollas
Plant Height
50 cm
Spread
50 cm
Leaf type
Evergreen
Ideal Temperature
20 - 41 ℃
Scientific Classification of Chollas
Phylum
Vascular plants Class
Dicotyledons Order
Pinks, cacti, and allies Family
Cactuses Genus
Chollas Distribution of Chollas
Feedback
Distribution Map of Chollas
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Chollas
Feedback
Chollas is notable for its resilience and unique appearance, demanding minimal care. These plants thrive in full sun and require well-draining soil, typically a sandy or gravelly mix. Watering should be infrequent, allowing the soil to dry out between sessions; overwatering is a common pitfall. Chollas is adapted to warm temperatures and can endure short cold spells, but should be protected from extended frosts. Common challenges include rot, pests like spider mites, and overhydration. Seasonally, chollas benefits from less frequent watering in winter and may need shade or extra water during extreme summer heat.
How to Water Chollas?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Chollas?
How to Propagate Chollas?
How to Plant Chollas?
Exploring the Chollas Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Tree cholla
Tree cholla (Cylindropuntia imbricata) is a cactus tree that grows from 91 to 152 cm tall. Grows in full sun and requires well-drained soil. Tree cholla flower buds are edible and can be dried, boiled or roasted and eaten much like okra. Yellow fruits ripen in winter and can be eaten raw or cooked into preserves, like other berries.
Wiggins' cholla
The wiggins' cholla is a cactus plant that mainly inhabits deserted areas in the United States and Mexico. It has highly decorative yellow and yellow-green flowers and dense, neatly arranged white to tan colored spines. Wiggins' cholla serves as a bird's nesting site and is ideal for desert and Mediterranean gardens.
Jumping cholla
With its unusual growth form and branches densely covered with spines, jumping cholla looks like a tree-cactus. At the end of each stem hangs a fleshy fruit, which becomes spineless over time and can remain attached to the stem for several years.
Cane Cholla
The cane Cholla branches like a tree, but it is actually a type of cactus. It grows best in dry, sunny environments - particularly the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. It grows fruit that are eaten by deer and sheep. It is also used in ceremonies by the indigenous Zuni people.
Show More Species
All Species of Chollas
Tree cholla
Wiggins' cholla
Jumping cholla
Cane Cholla
Teddy bear cholla
Buck-horn cholla
Staghorn cholla
Pencil cholla
Coastal cholla
Whipple cholla
Pencil cholla
Gander's buckhorn cholla
Desert christmas cactus
Thistle cholla
Bald cholla
Candle cholla
Jumping cholla
Wolf's opuntia
Kelvin pricklypear
Hoffmann's teddybear cholla
Jumping cholla
Cylindropuntia thurberi
Cylindropuntia alcahes
California cholla
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
