Cylindropuntia bernardina
Cane or valley cholla, Cane Or Valley Cholla
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Cactaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Cylindropuntia bernardina (Cane or valley cholla) is a native California shrub in the Cactaceae family.
Cane or valley cholla is a California native shrub found in southwestern San Joaquin Valley, southern Coast Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and western Colorado Desert at elevations of 700 to 1,900 meters in chaparral and pinyon/juniper woodland. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces yellow to yellow-green flowers with distinctive purple tips. Growing up to 3 meters tall with multiple erect trunks, it forms clusters of branching segments with terminal sections 16 to 40 centimeters long. Its distinctive stems feature 0 to 20 yellow to orange-brown spines with translucent white to gold-brown sheaths, creating a striking architectural form. The plant produces leathery fruits with spines and viable seeds less than 7 millimeters long, adapted to its arid desert and chaparral environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; elevation and long segments are key differentiators
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 700-1900 m
California counties: Ventura, San Bernardino, San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Cylindropuntia bernardina blooms Apr-Jul.
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 bernardina native to California?
Yes. Cylindropuntia bernardina is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cylindropuntia bernardina bloom?
Cylindropuntia bernardina blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Cylindropuntia bernardina grow?
Cylindropuntia bernardina occurs in Ventura, San Bernardino, San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, at elevations of 700-1900 m.
What plant family does Cylindropuntia bernardina belong to?
Cylindropuntia bernardina is in the Cactaceae family, genus Cylindropuntia.
What habitat does Cylindropuntia bernardina grow in?
Cylindropuntia bernardina grows in Chaparral, pinyon/juniper woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Cylindropuntia ganderi — Gander's cholla
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.