# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 19 - **Habitat:** Desert ![Christmas cholla](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cylindropuntia_leptocaulis.jpg&width=800) Photo: James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cylindropuntia_leptocaulis.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Cactaceae - **Genus:** Cylindropuntia ## 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 - **Water Hoarder:** Christmas cholla can survive long droughts because it stores precious water in its thick, succulent stems. - **Spiny Defender:** Christmas cholla has sharp, barbed spines that defend it from hungry animals seeking its vital water. - **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 - **Eats:** [Phainopepla](https://www.snappit.app/explore/phainopepla) (*Phainopepla nitens*) — Feeds on its persistent red winter fruits. - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits its small flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Shelter:** [Western Diamondback Rattlesnake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-diamondback-rattlesnake) (*Crotalus atrox*) — Seeks shade and cover under its spiny branches. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Succulent](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/succulent): Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Stay away from the spines, they can poke you! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Christmas cholla? Compare leaf arrangement, rosette shape, ribs, spines and flowers. Keep in mind that drought and strong sun can shift a plant's color and shape. Succulent Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chihuahuan-desert-nature-center-and-botanical-gardens) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Childs-Irving Hydroelectric Facilities](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/childs-irving-hydroelectric-facilities) — Arizona, US · Historic District - [Rattlesnake Springs Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rattlesnake-springs-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Thurber](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/thurber) — Texas, US · Neighborhood - [Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/natural-bridge-wildlife-ranch) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arizona-sonora-desert-museum) — Arizona, US · Zoo [View all places to see Christmas cholla](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/christmas-cholla) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Christmas cholla: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/christmas-cholla)