General Plant Information (Edit)
| Plant Habit: |
Shrub
Cactus/Succulent
|
| Life cycle: |
Perennial
|
| Sun Requirements: |
Full Sun
|
| Minimum cold hardiness: |
Zone 9a -6.7 °C (20 °F) to -3.9 °C (25 °F)
|
| Plant Height: |
Up to 4-6 feet |
| Leaves: |
Other: Small and short lived, appearing on new growth
|
| Flowers: |
Showy
|
| Flower Color: |
Mauve
Purple
|
| 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
Other: Easy to root from stem segments
|
| Containers: |
Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
|
| Miscellaneous: |
Tolerates poor soil
With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth
|
| Conservation status: |
Least Concern (LC)
|
- Coastal Cholla
- Jumping Cholla
- Cholla
- Coast Cholla
- Accepted: Cylindropuntia prolifera
- Synonym: Opuntia prolifera
Posted by
Baja_Costero (Baja California - Zone 11b) on Mar 30, 2018 11:51 PM concerning plant:
Blue-green cholla from coastal southern California and northwestern Baja California. Said to be a product of hybridization between C. alcahes and C. cholla, based on DNA analysis, but it is also found much more broadly to the north of where those two plants occur in habitat. It makes intense purple-red flowers and sometimes many proliferating fruits. It can grow to the size of a bush a few feet tall and wide and is very drought tolerant.
Like most chollas, this plant reproduces vegetatively when segments break off and stick to a passerby, then are detached elsewhere and root.
This cholla has extremely hazardous barbed spines, which are even worse than those of the average cholla. It is not recommended for use in gardens where there is any possibility of humans or pets coming in contact. Perhaps as a living fence to exclude traffic it might work. Otherwise keep a safe distance, as direct encounters are memorably unpleasant.
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