Tree Cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata. USDA zone 5a-11b, hardy to -20F. Lives: Front patio.
About this Tree Cholla
A tall, tree-like cholla native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, particularly common across the Chihuahuan Desert. It can reach 6–15 feet in height, forming a woody trunk with cylindrical, heavily tubercled stem segments armed with dense clusters of barbed spines. Showy magenta-pink flowers appear in late spring, followed by fleshy yellow-green fruits that persist on the plant well into winter. Despite its fearsome armature, it is one of the most cold-hardy chollas, tolerating temperatures well below 0°F.
Picked this up in Carlsbad and it now holds court on the front patio. The fruits are surprisingly good — the trick is burning off the tiny glochids with a lighter before you handle or eat them. A little fire, a little patience, and you've got a snack straight off the cactus.