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Christmas cholla

Cylindropuntia leptocaulis

The Christmas cholla is a fun cactus that looks like it has little green arms reaching up! It grows in the desert and can have beautiful yellow flowers in the spring.

Habitat: Desert

Appearance

The Christmas cholla is a slender, shrubby cactus with many thin, cylindrical stems that are dark green to purplish. It has sharp, silvery spines and produces small, bright red, berry-like fruits that persist through winter, making it distinct.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyCactaceaeGenusCylindropuntia
Christmas cholla
flowering trait badgeshrub trait badgespring_blooming trait badgedrought_tolerant trait badge
Christmas cholla

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

3/5 · Moderate

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Its barbed spines can break off and cling to clothing or skin very tightly!

Sometimes, this cactus is called "pencil cholla" because of its very thin, cylindrical stems!

The bright red fruits are edible for humans and have a surprisingly tart taste!

Young stem segments can root if they fall to the ground, growing into new plants!

Special abilities

Ability

Water Hoarder

Christmas cholla can survive long droughts because it stores precious water in its thick, succulent stems.

Ability

Spiny Defender

Christmas cholla has sharp, barbed spines that defend it from hungry animals seeking its vital water.

Ability

Winter Feast

Christmas cholla's bright red fruits stay on the plant all winter, providing food for birds when scarce.

Measurements & details

Height
100-200 cm
Spread
50-150 cm
Flower Size
1-2.5 cm
Bloom Season
Late spring to summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

3/5 · Moderate

Stay away from the spines, they can poke you!

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Christmas cholla?

100-200 cm

How wide does Christmas cholla spread?

50-150 cm

How big are the flowers on Christmas cholla?

1-2.5 cm

When does Christmas cholla bloom?

Late spring to summer

Is Christmas cholla edible?

Yes

Is Christmas cholla toxic?

None

What is Christmas cholla's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is Christmas cholla pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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