Cylindropuntia prolifera
Coast cholla
(c) Casey H. Richart, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cactaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Cylindropuntia prolifera (Coast cholla) is a native California shrub in the Cactaceae family, recognized by fruit chaining is absolutely diagnostic and unique.
Coast cholla is a California native shrub found in southern California coastal regions and Channel Islands in ocean bluffs and inland coastal scrub at elevations below 450 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces purple-red flowers in distinctive clusters emerging from areoles of older fruits. Growing up to 2 meters tall with few to several branches that curve upwards, it has easily detached terminal segments about 13 centimeters long. Its stems feature pale red-brown to dark brown spines, typically 6 to 14 per segment, surrounded by pale yellow-brown sheaths. The plant forms unusual "chained" fruits, with new flowers and fruits sequentially produced from areoles of older fruits, creating a distinctive segmented appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; fruit chaining is absolutely diagnostic and unique
Habitat and range
Habitat: Ocean bluffs, inland coastal scrub
Elevation: < 450 m
California counties: Orange, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Riverside, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Cylindropuntia prolifera 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 prolifera native to California?
Yes. Cylindropuntia prolifera is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cylindropuntia prolifera bloom?
Cylindropuntia prolifera blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Cylindropuntia prolifera grow?
Cylindropuntia prolifera occurs in Orange, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Riverside, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, at elevations of < 450 m.
What plant family does Cylindropuntia prolifera belong to?
Cylindropuntia prolifera is in the Cactaceae family, genus Cylindropuntia.
What habitat does Cylindropuntia prolifera grow in?
Cylindropuntia prolifera grows in Ocean bluffs, inland coastal scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Cylindropuntia ramosissima — Diamond cholla
- Cylindropuntia sp. — Cholla
- Cylindropuntia wolfii — Wolf's cholla
- Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. acanthocarpa — Buckhorn cholla
- Cylindropuntia bernardina — Cane or valley cholla
- Cylindropuntia bigelovii — Teddy-bear cholla
- Echinocactus polycephalus var. polycephalus — Barrel cactus
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.