Plant Highlights

Cylindropuntia californica, also known as Snake Cholla, California Cholla and Cane Cholla, is native to far southern California (San Diego) and Baja California, where it grows in coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and other local habitat along or close to the coast. It is a low to medium upright cactus, with spiny cylindrical segments. Yellow flowers in spring. The fruit is dry, leathery, greenish or yellow.

Fairly attractive species good for large landscape areas. Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping, give this native little or no supplemental water in summer as it survives on rain water alone. Cold hardy to 15 degrees F.

It is included in the CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants.