Buckhorn Cholla

Buckhorn Cholla:

COMMON NAME: Buckhorn Cholla

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Opuntia acanthocarpa

Buckhorn Cholla has slender cylindrical stems called joints. It grows is a dense thicket that has a shrubby appearance that may be 4 -5 feet tall. The joints look like deer antlers, thus the name buckhorn. The joints are covered with 1 inch long yellow-brown spines. The flowers may be red to yellow; the fruit is dry and covered with spines when mature. The spiny branches provide well-protected nesting sites for many desert birds.

Buckhorn grows in desert mesas and slopes between 500 -3500 feet.

Cultivation: Buckhorn has succulent tissues, so it can go long periods without water. It needs a hot, bright location away from people areas. It makes a good barrier at property lines.

Buckhorn Cholla Flower:

 

 


Print This Page   Email This Page