General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Dry
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Leaves: Evergreen
Fruit: Showy
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Lavender
Mauve
Bloom Size: 2"-3"
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Summer
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Provides winter interest
Will Naturalize
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Drought tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Start indoors
Can handle transplanting
Other info: Fruit can take root and form a new plant without having to use its seeds; needs neutral soil pH
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Layering
Division
Offsets
Other: Easy to root from stem segments
Pollinators: Various insects
Containers: Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil
With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth
Conservation status: Least Concern (LC)

Conservation status:
Conservation status: Least Concern
Image
Common names
  • Tree Cholla
  • Cholla
  • Candelabrum Cactus
  • Cane Cactus
  • Walking Stick Cholla
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Cylindropuntia imbricata
  • Synonym: Opuntia imbricata

Photo Gallery
Location: Scottsdale AZ my yard
Date: 2015-04-21
Location: Botanical Garden of the University of Münster
Date: 2017-09-19
Location: my garden
Date: 2016-05-13
Location: my garden
Date: 2016-05-13
Location: Elephant Butte, NM
Date: 6/17/2013
This cactus is close enough to my yard that it gets a very occasi

photo credit: H. Zell
Location: Elephant Butte, NM
Date: 6/12/2013
Location: Fort Worth Nature Center.
Date: Spring 2010
The color of these flowers is amazing.
Location: South facing hillside
Date: 2020-09-24
In bloom
Location: Elephant Butte, NM
Date: 10/6/2013
a favorite nesting for several birds. this cactus is one that end
Location: Tarragona (Spain)
Location: Botanical Garden of Berlin
Date: 2013-10-07
Location: Botanical Garden La Concepcion - Malaga
Date: 2015-03-25
Location: Botanical Garden La Concepcion - Malaga
Date: 2015-03-25
Location: Botanical Garden Barcelona (Spain)
Date: 2017-05-21
Location: Morton Arboretum
credit: John Delano
Location: Tarragona (Spain)
Date: 2023-09-12
Location: Tarragona (Spain)
Location: Botanical Garden of Würzburg
Date: 2011-03-31
Location: Botanical Garden La Concepcion - Malaga
Date: 2015-03-25
Location: Tent Rocks, New Mexico
Date: 6-14-15
Location: Silverton, Oregon
Date: 2018-01-05
I didn't know these would grow on Oregon
Location: Tarragona (Spain)
Location: Botanical Garden of Barcelona
Date: 2019-04-22
Location: Botanical Garden La Concepcion - Malaga
Date: 2015-03-25
Location: Botanical garden of Barcelona (Spain)
Date: 2022-04-16
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by Johannian (The Black Hills, SD - Zone 4b) on Jan 11, 2022 9:19 PM concerning plant:
    Range: southern Colorado and Kansas to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and northern Mexico. Additional info: this is the first bush-like or tree-like Cholla (pronounced choy'-yah) encountered when traveling from the east to the southwest.

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