Desert Christmas Cactus, Pencil Cholla
Scientific Name: Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (DC.) F.M. Knuth
Synonym: Cylindropuntia brittonii, Opuntia brittonii, Opuntia frutescens, Opuntia leptocaulis, Opuntia vaginata
Family: Cactaceae
USDA: 9b-10
Frost Tolerance: Hardy to 23° F (-5°C)
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Origin: Southwestern USA (western Arizona to Texas), northern Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon) from 200 to 5000 feet elevation (60 to 1500 m)
Growth Habits: Slender erect 'cholla' shrub up to 3 feet tall (90 cm) or more; light green, slender joints
Watering Needs: Little water
Propagation: Cuttings
In the wild, the Pencil Cholla is encountered along washes. It can be easily missed as it is entangled with other shrubs and vegetation.
Blooming Habits:
The flowers in May-June are small and inconspicuous.
Fruiting Habits:
The green fruits have the shape and size of olives, and turn red when they mature in the winter months. They become then very visible and gave the plant its name of Christmas cactus.
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