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ROC #343460

cactusArizona NativePet FriendlyPollinator Plant

Buckhorn Cholla

Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa

A native cholla that provides critical nesting habitat for desert birds and dazzling red-yellow spring blooms.

Cold hardy into the teens °F, USDA 9-11; thrives across low and mid elevations of the Sonoran and Mojave deserts.

AMWUA Notes

Native and extremely drought tolerant; provides nesting habitat and needs zero supplemental water once established.

Care Guide

💧Watering

Needs no irrigation once established; give an occasional deep soak only in extreme drought, as overwatering causes rot.

✂️Pruning

Remove dead or damaged joints with long-handled tongs; detached segments root readily, so clean up dropped joints.

🌱Fertilizing

None; native chollas thrive in poor desert soils.

🛡️Pests

Largely pest-free; cochineal-type scale is uncommon but can be knocked off cottony masses with a water jet.

☀️Seasonal Notes

Fully desert-adapted with no frost protection needed; wear thick gloves when handling the barbed spines year-round.

Soil, Feeding & Propagation

🪨Soil

Native or decomposed-granite desert soil; sharp-draining and lean

💧Drainage

Needs sharp, fast-draining soil.

🌱Nutrient Needs

None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.

🌰Propagation

Detached joints/segments root readily; also seed

📐Spacing

5 ft

🌳Roots & Placement

Shallow, non-invasive roots; barbed joints detach easily, so site well away from walkways, pets and play areas

Placement Tips

•Site far from walkways, pools, play areas and pet runs because the barbed joints detach easily and are painful.
•Excellent as a living security barrier under windows.
•Give at least 5 ft of spread room.
•Plant in native or granite soil with sharp drainage.

Features

Red-yellow spring flowersWildlife nesting habitatPollinator magnetSecurity barrier

Best Uses

Wildlife habitatSecurity plantingNatural landscape

Ecological Value

Attracts

beesbutterflies

Wildlife Value

nesting birdssecurity

Companion Plants

cactus

Native

Saguaro

Carnegiea gigantea

The towering icon of the Sonoran Desert, providing critical habitat for birds and nocturnal pollinators alike.

Very Low Waterfull sun

cactus

Native

Engelmann's Prickly Pear

Opuntia engelmannii

A widespread native prickly pear whose vivid magenta-pink spring flowers give way to edible purple fruit.

Very Low Waterfull sun

shrub

Native

Brittlebush

Encelia farinosa

An iconic Sonoran Desert native with silver foliage and bright yellow daisy flowers that support bees, butterflies, birds, and mammals.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

tree

Native

Foothills Palo Verde

Parkinsonia microphylla

A sculptural Sonoran native with luminous lime-green bark and a canopy of bright yellow blooms that lights up the spring desert.

Very Low Waterfull sun

Quick Stats

Water NeedsVery Low (Xeric)

Sun Exposurefull sun

Mature Size4 ft H × 5 ft W

Growth Rateslow

Maintenancelow

HardinessUSDA 9-11

FoliageEvergreen

Drainagesharp, fast-draining

Bloom SeasonSpring

Bloom ColorRed-yellow

Litter Levellow

Thornsmedium

Native RegionMohave and Sonoran Deserts

Design Styles

desert modernnative habitat

Include in Your Project

Love Buckhorn Cholla? Our landscape team sources from wholesale nurseries and can incorporate it into your design.

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Use this care guide to maintain your Buckhorn Cholla. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.

Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.

Buckhorn Cholla — common questions

Answers for low-desert Phoenix conditions, drawn from this plant’s growing data.

How much water does Buckhorn Cholla need in Phoenix?

Buckhorn Cholla is a very low-water cactus once established. Needs no irrigation once established; give an occasional deep soak only in extreme drought, as overwatering causes rot. Native and extremely drought tolerant; provides nesting habitat and needs zero supplemental water once established.

How big does Buckhorn Cholla get?

Expect roughly 4 ft tall and 5 ft wide at maturity, with a slow growth rate. Allow about 5 ft of spacing when planting. Shallow, non-invasive roots; barbed joints detach easily, so site well away from walkways, pets and play areas.

Can you plant Buckhorn Cholla near a pool?

Not ideally. Buckhorn Cholla is not rated pool-friendly, so it is better placed away from the pool deck and skimmer. Litter is rated low.

Can Buckhorn Cholla handle Arizona heat and winter frost?

Buckhorn Cholla is hardy in USDA 9-11 and wants full sun. Cold hardy into the teens °F, USDA 9-11; thrives across low and mid elevations of the Sonoran and Mojave deserts. Fully desert-adapted with no frost protection needed; wear thick gloves when handling the barbed spines year-round.

Does Buckhorn Cholla have thorns?

Yes — Buckhorn Cholla has medium thorns. Site it back from walkways, seating and pool decks where people brush past.

Is Buckhorn Cholla safe around pets?

Buckhorn Cholla is listed as pet-friendly in this guide. If your dog is a determined chewer, check any new plant with your vet before planting.

When does Buckhorn Cholla bloom in Arizona?

Buckhorn Cholla blooms in spring, with red-yellow flowers. The bloom draws bees, butterflies.

How much maintenance does Buckhorn Cholla need?

Buckhorn Cholla is low-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated low. Remove dead or damaged joints with long-handled tongs; detached segments root readily, so clean up dropped joints.

What kind of soil does Buckhorn Cholla need?

Native or decomposed-granite desert soil; sharp-draining and lean. It needs no supplemental feeding. None; native chollas thrive in poor desert soils.

Is Buckhorn Cholla native to Arizona?

Yes. Buckhorn Cholla is native to Arizona and to the Mohave and Sonoran Deserts, so it is adapted to local rainfall, soil and heat.