Cane Cholla – Cylindropuntia californica var. parkeri

Also known as: Parker’s Cholla

Cane Cholla is a sprawling, shrubby cactus native to southern California and northern Baja California, including select parts of the Sonoran and Colorado Deserts. It is most often found in sandy or gravelly washes, rocky slopes, and desert flats, particularly in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and around the Salton Sea region, where it occurs in the transitional zones between coastal-influenced desert and the hotter, drier Colorado Desert.

This distinctive cholla features narrow, cane-like cylindrical joints (segments) that form tangled, open clusters. Its stems are usually light green to bluish-green, with tan to brown spines in irregular clusters, giving it a less “fuzzy” appearance than Teddy Bear Cholla. It typically grows 2–4 feet tall and spreads laterally. In spring, it produces showy yellow-green or bronze-tinged flowers that develop into fleshy, spiny fruit that may persist into winter. These fruits are not readily detached and serve as an important seasonal food source for many desert animals.

While it is not as widespread in the Coachella Valley as Silver or Chain-Fruit Cholla, Cane Cholla is a valuable addition to habitat gardens where space allows. It is drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun with well-drained soils. Its segmented pads can root where they fall, allowing slow, natural spread.

Wildlife Value

Host Plant: Supports cactus-feeding moth larvae such as Melitara spp. (native cactus moths). Cactoblastis cactorum has not been confirmed in this variety but is a known potential threat to chollas.

Nectar Source: Flowers are visited by native bees (including sweat bees and carpenter bees), beetles, and occasional butterflies.

Bird Resources: Fruit/Berries; Nectar; Seeds; Nesting Sites; Shelter

Bird Species: Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus), Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura), Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata), Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus), Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis), Hummingbirds (family Trochilidae) – observed foraging and perching

Other Wildlife: Provides nesting and refuge habitat for desert lizards and small mammals. Desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) do not typically eat Cane Cholla, but they often burrow beneath its base for protection from predators and heat.