SafePlants

Buckhorn Cholla (Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa)

The Buckhorn Cholla, scientifically known as Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa, is a common cactus found in the deserts of the southwestern United States. It's a member of the Opuntia genus.

Common Names

• Buckhorn Cholla
• Buck-horn Cholla
• Yellow-Flowered Cane Cholla

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa (Engelm. & Bigelow) F.M. Knuth
• Family: Cactaceae (Cactus family)
• Synonym: Opuntia acanthocarpa Engelm. & Bigelow
• Plant Symbol: OPAC (USDA NRCS National Plant Data)

Considerations for Pets

• This plant has long stem segments with yellow spines.
• The plant is described as "spiny".
• The plant is known as an "aggressive fellow".
• Native Americans used ashes from the stems medicinally.

Considerations for Children

• This plant has long stem segments with yellow spines.
• The plant is described as "spiny".
• The plant is known as an "aggressive fellow".
• Native Americans gathered the Buckhorn fruit.
• Native Americans used ashes from the stems medicinally.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to the deserts of southern California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, and Arizona.
• Specifically found in southeast California.
• Frequently grows alongside Staghorn Cholla (Opuntia versicolor).
• Found in the Sonoran Desert, Arizona.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• An upright, branched, cylindrical-stemmed cactus.
• Grows as an open and branching woody cactus.
• Has gray-green stems, also called "joints".
• Slender cylindrical stems called joints that look like deer antlers.
• Grows in dense thickets.
• Variable flower color ranging from yellow to orange/red.

Quirky Facts

• The "joints" (stems) of the Buckhorn Cholla resemble deer antlers, hence the name.
• It can be difficult to distinguish from Silver Cholla in areas where they grow together.
• The plant is described as the "annoying, twisted little cacti typically huddled in clusters in dusty landscapes".