Cylindropuntia fosbergii

Fosberg's or mason valley cholla, Fosberg's Or Mason Valley Cholla

Family: Cactaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3

Fosberg's cholla is a rare California native shrub ranked 1B.3 by CNPS, found in eastern San Diego County on valley floors and alluvial fans at elevations of 300 to 450 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces pale red-brown flowers with green filaments. Growing up to 2.5 meters tall with several long, curving branches, it forms distinctive terminal segments that are easily detached. Its branches feature 7 to 10 pale red-brown spines less than 2.5 centimeters long, covering pale yellow-brown spine sheaths. The plant has long, curved branches with terminal segments about 4 to 6 centimeters in diameter, giving it a distinctive, sculptural appearance in its desert habitat.

Habitat: Valley floors, alluvial fans

Bloom period: Mar-May

Elevation: 300-450 m

Bioregions: DSon (e San Diego Co.).

California counties: San Diego

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.