Cylindropuntia Species, Candelabrum Cactus, Cane Cactus, Giant Tree Cholla, Walking Stick Cholla

On Jan 7, 2013, idahocactus2 from Boise, ID wrote:

this large tree-like cholla grows very well here in the Boise Valley in many locations. Many specimans here are 6 - 10 feet tall and covered with many blossoms in the early summer. Some of the plants are at least 40 years old, and
have very woody trunks.

Will thrive in temps. well below zero. No water and very little care with occasional pruning for any winter snow damage and to shape. Will easily grow from cuttings.

Birds sometimes will nest in the branches to protect the hatchlings from cats and other predators. Makes quite a statement in the desert yard grouped with large yuccas, salvias, prickly pear cactus and others.

On Dec 6, 2010, Alexwtf_93 from Susanville, CA wrote:

another one of my favorite cactus that is hardy enough to grow in northern california all year (the cold winters encourage them to flower more), some grow several feet tall, others break when it snows, but even the broken branches stay alive and grow the flowing spring

On Jun 21, 2008, JohnTS71 from San Antonio, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:

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.

On Aug 13, 2005, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

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 3... read more0, 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.

On Oct 15, 2004, Xenomorf from Phoenix, AZ (Zone 9b) wrote:

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.