Cylindropuntia wolfii
Wolf's cholla
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Cactaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Cylindropuntia wolfii (Wolf's cholla) is a native California shrub in the Cactaceae family, recognized by purple-brown flowers with red/magenta filaments distinctive.
Wolf's cholla is a California native shrub found in the Peninsular Ranges and western Sonoran Desert in dry places above valley floors at elevations of 300 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces pale purple-brown flowers with striking red to magenta filaments. Growing up to 2 meters tall with several to many trunks and long erect main branches, it forms distinctive columnar shapes with terminal segments up to 40 centimeters long. Its stems feature prominent tubercles 15 to 25 millimeters long and 12 to 22 spines that range from pale to dark brown, creating a dense, architectural appearance. The plant's terminal segments are firmly attached and 2.5 to 4.2 centimeters in diameter, giving Wolf's cholla a robust and sculptural presence in arid landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; purple-brown flowers with red/magenta filaments distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry places above valley floors
Elevation: 300-1200 m
California counties: Imperial, San Diego
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Cylindropuntia wolfii blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 wolfii native to California?
Yes. Cylindropuntia wolfii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cylindropuntia wolfii bloom?
Cylindropuntia wolfii blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Cylindropuntia wolfii grow?
Cylindropuntia wolfii occurs in Imperial, San Diego, at elevations of 300-1200 m.
What plant family does Cylindropuntia wolfii belong to?
Cylindropuntia wolfii is in the Cactaceae family, genus Cylindropuntia.
Is Cylindropuntia wolfii rare or endangered?
Cylindropuntia wolfii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. acanthocarpa — Buckhorn cholla
- Cylindropuntia bernardina — Cane or valley cholla
- Cylindropuntia bigelovii — Teddy-bear cholla
- Cylindropuntia californica var. californica — Snake cholla
- Cylindropuntia chuckwallensis — Chuckwalla cholla
- Cylindropuntia echinocarpa — Silver or golden cholla
- Echinocactus polycephalus var. polycephalus — Barrel cactus
- Echinocactus sp. — Clustered barrel cactus
- Echinocereus engelmannii — Calico cactus
- Echinocereus engelmannii var. howei — Howe's hedgehog cactus
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.