Silver Cholla
Cylindropuntia echinocarpa
Also listed as Opuntia echinocarpa, Grusonia echinocarpa
Climate Match for your location
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A spiny, columnar cholla cactus with silvery-gray spines and small yellow flowers, extremely drought-tolerant and suited to desert landscapes. Its distinctive appearance makes it a striking accent plant for xeriscaping.
Why grow it
Silver cholla tolerates hotter, drier conditions than most columnar cacti and establishes with minimal supplemental water once established in well-draining soil. Its silvery spine coloration and compact form make it useful as a structural element in water-conserving landscapes where other accent shrubs would require irrigation. Compared to related chollas, it remains relatively restrained in spread, making it more practical for smaller desert gardens.
Watch out for
The stems readily detach when brushed or handled, so site it away from high-traffic areas or pathways. In cooler winter climates at the edge of its hardiness range, protect from prolonged wet conditions, which can lead to rot at the base. The plant may spread slowly from fallen joints in favorable conditions, though it is not aggressive.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Cactaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Sonoran and Mojave Deserts (Arizona, California, Nevada)
Native to: Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A spiny, columnar cholla cactus with silvery-gray spines and small yellow flowers, extremely drought-tolerant and suited to desert landscapes. Its distinctive appearance makes it a striking accent plant for xeriscaping.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Silver Cholla grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Silver cholla tolerates hotter, drier conditions than most columnar cacti and establishes with minimal supplemental water once established in well-draining soil. Its silvery spine coloration and compact form make it useful as a structural element in water-conserving landscapes where other accent shrubs would require irrigation. Compared to related chollas, it remains relatively restrained in spread, making it more practical for smaller desert gardens.
Watch out for
The stems readily detach when brushed or handled, so site it away from high-traffic areas or pathways. In cooler winter climates at the edge of its hardiness range, protect from prolonged wet conditions, which can lead to rot at the base. The plant may spread slowly from fallen joints in favorable conditions, though it is not aggressive.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Cactaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Sonoran and Mojave Deserts (Arizona, California, Nevada)
Native to: Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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