Cylindropuntia chuckwallensis
Chuckwalla cholla, Chuckwalla Cholla
(c) W Rao, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cactaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Cylindropuntia chuckwallensis (Chuckwalla cholla) is a native California shrub in the Cactaceae family, recognized by pink-purple flowers are distinctive among desert chollas.
Chuckwalla cholla is a native shrub found in the Joshua Tree National Park and central Colorado Desert regions, inhabiting gravelly and rocky hillsides, washes, and canyon walls at elevations of 400 to 1,600 meters. Flowering in April, this plant produces pale to dark pink-purple flowers with occasionally pale yellow-green tones, occasionally highlighted by pink-purple-tinged filaments. Growing as a multi-trunked shrub less than 1.2 meters tall, it features distinctive terminal segments 3.3 to 9.7 centimeters long with prominent tubercles. Its stems are armed with 6 to 21 generally translucent white spines, creating a striking silvery-white defensive network across the plant's surface. The chuckwalla cholla produces dry, spiny fruits with tubercles that mirror those found on its stems, adapted to the harsh desert environments of southeastern California.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; pink-purple flowers are distinctive among desert chollas
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly or rocky soils of hillsides, washes, canyon walls
Elevation: 400-1600 m
California counties: Riverside, Imperial
Bloom period
Cylindropuntia chuckwallensis blooms Apr.
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 chuckwallensis native to California?
Yes. Cylindropuntia chuckwallensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cylindropuntia chuckwallensis bloom?
Cylindropuntia chuckwallensis blooms Apr.
Where in California does Cylindropuntia chuckwallensis grow?
Cylindropuntia chuckwallensis occurs in Riverside, Imperial, at elevations of 400-1600 m.
What plant family does Cylindropuntia chuckwallensis belong to?
Cylindropuntia chuckwallensis is in the Cactaceae family, genus Cylindropuntia.
What habitat does Cylindropuntia chuckwallensis grow in?
Cylindropuntia chuckwallensis grows in Gravelly or rocky soils of hillsides, washes, canyon walls.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.