Cylindropuntia munzii
Munz's cholla
(c) Mike Ostrowski, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Cactaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Cylindropuntia munzii (Munz's cholla) is a native California shrub in the Cactaceae family, recognized by limited range and deciduous fruit spines are key.
Munz's cholla is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native shrub found in southern desert mountains including Chocolate and Chuckwalla Mountains, Imperial and Riverside counties, growing in gravelly or sandy washes and canyon walls at elevations of 150 to 600 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces yellow-green to red-brown flowers with green filaments on terminal segments. Growing up to 2.4 meters tall with several spreading branches that curve upwards, it features distinctive terminal segments easily detached and typically less than 10 centimeters long. Its stems have prominent tubercles 10 to 16 millimeters long and bear 9 to 16 light yellow to pale red-brown spines less than 4 centimeters in length. The cactus produces dry fruits with deciduous spines and is capable of fertile seed production.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; limited range and deciduous fruit spines are key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly or sandy soils of washes, canyon walls
Elevation: 150-600 m
California counties: Riverside, Imperial
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Cylindropuntia munzii blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
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 munzii native to California?
Yes. Cylindropuntia munzii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cylindropuntia munzii bloom?
Cylindropuntia munzii blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Cylindropuntia munzii grow?
Cylindropuntia munzii occurs in Riverside, Imperial, at elevations of 150-600 m.
What plant family does Cylindropuntia munzii belong to?
Cylindropuntia munzii is in the Cactaceae family, genus Cylindropuntia.
Is Cylindropuntia munzii rare or endangered?
Cylindropuntia munzii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.