Scientific: Cylindropuntia arbuscula (Synonyms: Cylindropuntia neoarbuscula, Cylindropuntia vivipara, Grusonia arbuscula, Opuntia arbuscula, Opuntia neoarbuscula)
Common: pencil cholla
Family: Cactaceae
Origin: Sonoran Desert
Pronounciation: Ca-lin-dr-o-pun-TEE-a ar-bus-CU-la
Hardiness zones
Sunset 11-13
USDA 8-11
Landscape Use: Desert gardens, Sonoran Desert habitat restoration, accent, barrier, screen.
Form & Character: Upright and branched, semi-arborescent, imposing yet delicate, arid.
Growth Habit: Succulent perennial, slowly upright and branched to 7-feet tall with less than equal spread.
Foliage/Texture: Segmented, cylindrical stems to 2-inches wide, stem segments to 2-feet long, stems grayish green, aeroles with a least 4 spines, most very short, occassional one spine might extend to 1-inch long; medium fine texture.
Flowers & Fruits: Flowers brownish yellow, fruit elongated to 1.5 inches in length, fleshy, ripens to a greenish purple color.
Seasonal Color: Flowers in April and May.
Temperature: Hardy
Light: Full sun
Soil: Tolerant
Watering: None
Pruning: Limited pruning, only to control spread.
Propagation: Stem cuttings, easy direct stick into place.
Disease and Pests: Cottony cushiony scale if air circulation around the plant is poor (planted closely to other plants in a dense configuration).
Additional comments: This is a less imposing cholla (e.g., less chance to get impaled or otherwise stuck) for moderate to large scale desert plantings.