Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. acanthocarpa
Buckhorn cholla, Buckhorn Cholla
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Family: Cactaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. acanthocarpa (Buckhorn cholla) is a native California shrub in the Cactaceae family, recognized by long segments and yellow flowers with purple-red filaments are key.
Buckhorn cholla is a California native shrub found in the Mojave Desert bioregion in creosote-bush scrub and Joshua-tree woodland at elevations below 1,600 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces yellow flowers with purple to brown-red tints, with inner perianth less than 3.5 centimeters long. Growing up to 4 meters tall with a single trunk and spreading to erect main branches, it features distinctive terminal segments up to 50 centimeters long and 2 to 2.5 centimeters in diameter. Its branches are covered with 12 to 21 pale yellow- to red-brown spines less than 5 centimeters long, arranged on prominent tubercles 20 to 40 millimeters long. The fruit is spiny with proximal tubercles notably larger than distal tubercles, creating a distinctive and formidable appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; long segments and yellow flowers with purple-red filaments are key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Creosote-bush scrub, Joshua-tree woodland
Elevation: < 1600 m
Outside California: Nevada, Arizona
Bloom period
Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. acanthocarpa blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Opuntia: Cylindropuntia has cylindrical stem segments; Opuntia has flattened paddle-shaped pads.; vs Austrocylindropuntia: Cylindropuntia has papery spine sheaths that peel away; Austrocylindropuntia lacks spine sheaths entirely.; vs Echinocereus: Cylindropuntia has segmented stems that detach easily; Echinocereus has ribbed continuous stems.; vs Bergerocactus: Cylindropuntia has detachable segments with tubercles; Bergerocactus has continuous ribbed stems.; vs Grusonia: Cylindropuntia has round spines and grows waist-high or taller; Grusonia has flattened spines and stays under 10 inches.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. acanthocarpa native to California?
Yes. Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. acanthocarpa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. acanthocarpa bloom?
Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. acanthocarpa blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. acanthocarpa belong to?
Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. acanthocarpa is in the Cactaceae family, genus Cylindropuntia.
What habitat does Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. acanthocarpa grow in?
Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. acanthocarpa grows in Creosote-bush scrub, Joshua-tree woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Cylindropuntia bernardina — Cane or valley cholla
- Cylindropuntia bigelovii — Teddy-bear cholla
- Cylindropuntia californica var. californica — Snake cholla
- Cylindropuntia chuckwallensis — Chuckwalla cholla
- Cylindropuntia echinocarpa — Silver or golden cholla
- Cylindropuntia fosbergii — Fosberg's or mason valley cholla
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.