Characteristics
| Hardiness zone | 5b |
|---|---|
| Flower color | fuchsia |
| Foliage type | evergreen |
| Plant form | spreading |
| Mature height | 9 feet |
| Spread | 5 feet |
| Light requirements | full sun |
| Moisture requirements | dry |
| Plant origin | North American native |
Tree Cholla Cactus
Botanical name: Cylindropuntia cholla
Very unique, stem-like, cylindrical growth instead of the usual pads, becomes woody with a layer of bark with age; stems topped with glowing fuchsia flowers; can be very spiny so handle carefully; edible fruit can be eaten raw or cooked.
Other names: Chain-link Cactus, Cane Cholla, Opuntia imbricata
Ornamental Features
Tree Cholla Cactus features showy fuchsia cup-shaped flowers at the ends of the stems in early summer. Its attractive succulent narrow leaves remain grayish green in color throughout the year. The red fruits are carried on spikes in late summer.
Landscape Attributes
Tree Cholla Cactus is an open herbaceous evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other garden plants with finer foliage.
This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should never be pruned except to remove any dieback, as it tends not to take pruning well. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
Spiny
Tree Cholla Cactus is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Accent, Mass Planting, Rock/Alpine Gardens, General Garden Use, Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens, Container Planting
Planting and Growing
Tree Cholla Cactus will grow to be about 9 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years.
This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It requires an extremely dry, well-drained growing location, and will usually die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided. This species is native to parts of North America.
Tree Cholla Cactus is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
