Cylindropuntia prolifera
| Light | Full sun; bright, direct light year-round |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly; soak only when the soil has dried out completely, keep dry in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; hardy to roughly USDA zone 9 |
| Propagation | Detached joints root very readily; seed less commonly |
| Toxicity | Not considered toxic, but the barbed glochids and spines are a serious mechanical hazard |
Cylindropuntia prolifera is a shrubby to small-tree-like cholla cactus native to the coastal zones of southern California and northwestern Baja California, Mexico, where it forms dense, thicket-like stands along bluffs and desert flats. Known commonly as the coastal cholla, it is instantly recognisable by its cylindrical, easily detached joints and its bright magenta to rose-pink flowers borne at the branch tips. It belongs to the segmented-stemmed genus Cylindropuntia.
Description
Cylindropuntia prolifera grows as a much-branched shrub, typically 1–2 m tall, occasionally approaching 3 m and taking on a low, tree-like form with a short woody trunk. The stems are built from firm, cylindrical joints (cladodes) covered in raised, tuberculate ridges. Each areole carries spines sheathed in a papery covering, along with tufts of tiny barbed glochids that detach at the lightest touch and lodge painfully in skin.
The flowers appear in spring at the ends of the newest joints, opening a vivid magenta to purple-pink and giving the plant much of its ornamental appeal. The species epithet prolifera — "proliferating" — refers to its habit of producing chains of fruit, in which new fruit buds directly from the areoles of the previous season's fruit. The fruits are usually sterile and frequently develop a fresh fruit or joint from their own areoles, so the plant tends to spread vegetatively far more than by seed.
Distribution and habitat
The coastal cholla is found along the Pacific coast of southern California, through the Channel Islands, and into northwestern Baja California. It favours coastal bluffs, sandy flats, and open scrub within reach of marine influence, where cool fog offsets low rainfall. In these settings it often forms broad, near-impenetrable stands, the detached joints rooting where they fall to build up dense colonies.
Cultivation
Cylindropuntia prolifera is an undemanding plant for a hot, sunny position and is well suited to open ground in frost-free coastal and desert gardens. Give it full sun and a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix; it tolerates poor, sandy soils well. Water thoroughly during the warm growing season once the soil has dried, then reduce sharply and keep the plant dry through winter, when it is most vulnerable to rot. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Handle with real care. The barbed spines and glochids detach at a touch and are difficult and painful to remove from skin, so use thick gloves, folded newspaper, or tongs when moving or potting the plant, and site it away from paths and where children or pets might brush against it.
Propagation
Propagation could hardly be easier: a detached joint left to callus for a few days and then set on gritty, barely moist substrate will usually root within weeks. This mirrors how the plant spreads in the wild. Seed is possible but far less common, partly because much of the fruit is sterile. See Propagation — cuttings and Propagation — offsets for method, and Propagation — seed for the seed-raised route.
Common problems
- Rot — the main risk, almost always from overwatering or a slow-draining mix, or from winter wet while the plant is dormant.
- Etiolation — too little light produces weak, thin, pale joints instead of firm, sturdy growth.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the areoles) and scale can take hold, especially on plants grown under glass.
- Unwanted spread — dropped joints root readily, so clean up fallen segments if you do not want new plants colonising the area.
See also
- Cylindropuntia — the genus overview
- Propagation — cuttings · Propagation — offsets · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Pests and diseases