PlantFiles: Giant Tree Cholla, Tree Cholla, Candelabrum Cactus, Cane Cactus, Cane Cholla, Walking Stick Cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata

I have had this cactus growing in the ground and in pots and in both conditions have survived the winters here in DE with no damage from winter conditions. I love the look of the branches when dried out. They are fast growing and very easy to grow. I fertilize both in the ground and in pots with osmocote. I don't measure the osmocote fertilizer, I just toss a handfull on the ones in the ground and the ones in the pots I just toss a smaller amount on them, I would assume the smaller ones I toss about a tablespoon or two in the pot. It is amazing how much cold these cacti will take!

This is one of my favorite cacti. I live in San Antonio so this was a no brainer to be planted. Little did I know how fast this cactus would grow. My mother broke off 2 very small arms and I planted them in a pot...they barley grew. The plant I got them from was given to me later...it was around 1 1/2 feet tall. I planted the 2 little ones in my new cactus garden...they were so small I stepped on one and thought I killed it. I put it back into the ground and about a month later they started growing arms. THe mother of the them was planted a month later and it has grown 6in tall since I planted it a month ago. It is truly a must have for a cactus garden because it can take the heat and severe cold.

My mother lives near the Oklahoma panhandle (zone 6b) and has these growing wild in her pastures. They have survived many winters below 0degrees and can spread to a width of 15-20 foot and a height of about 12 foot.

I have not grown this plant, but have observed many cultivated tree cholla growing in landscapes. Tree cholla's native range extends from Arizona (eastern Cochise County), across southern New Mexico into Kansas, southern Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma and southward into northern Mexico. In Texas, it inhabits the grasslands in West Texas (Big Bend Region) and west of San Saba, and Burnet, Bexar, and Victoria counties. It is an arborescent (tree-like) plant that can attain a height of 10 feet or more and has a distinct woody trunk. The stems are about 12 inches long and 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches in diameter. The laterally flattened tubercles surrounding each areole are sharply raised and are up to 3/4 to 1-3/8 inches long. 3 to 4 rows of tubercles are visible from one side of the stem. There are 8 to 30, 3/4 to 1-1/4 inches long spines per areole which are pink to brown in color and covered with a tan sheath that persist until spring. The 2 to 2-3/4 inches in diameter magenta blooms are terminally clustered at the ends of branches. The yellow, umbilicate (depressed and scarred top), 1 to 1-1/2 inches long fruit has a few spines and persists on the plant through the winter. It has a few seeds which are gray and about 1/8 inch in diameter. The tree cholla has a beautiful shape and is exceptionally nice when in bloom. It usually blooms prolifically in early summer and I have seen it prolifically bloom again in late summer. It is a great addition to a wildscape, rock garden and xeriscape, but needs plenty of room to allow it to grow to its full potential.

The Navajos used poultices made of the cleaned joints of chollas. They despined the joints, split them lengthwise, heated them and applied them to relieve the pain of arthritis. The roots of cholla have been chewed to treat diarrhea.

just got one a few months ago. doing well in huge pot. if it survives fla. humididty i will put in ground in spring time. can't wait. boy fast growing to. {so far} corky

Many cholla's resemble links to a chain.
There are also other species of cholla with the common name "Chain-link".
I think the best known species would be, Cylindropuntia cholla.

Also know as Chainlink Cactus - the criss crossing joints resemble a chain link fence. It gets at least 10 feet tall and will likely continue spreading out endlessly as it's fallen joints take root.