Bush Pencil Cholla Cactus. Cylindropuntia arbuscula, Cactus Family ( Cactaceae ), Bush Pencil Cholla Cactus. Also Called: Arizona Pencil Cholla, Branched Pencil, Bush Cholla, Pencil Cholla, Chollita, Chumbera, Tasajo, Opuntia hualpaensis, Opuntia vivipara, Opuntia neoarbuscula, Opuntia arbuscula. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. Arizona Pencil Chollas are native Arizona plants, that are also used as xeriscape landscaping plants in Arizona. Cylindropuntia arbuscula can be found growing as a shrubby or sometimes tree - link structure, It's slender joints are 2 to 4 inches long and � inch (15 mm) in diameter. Usually joints are sparsely-spined, with each areole bearing 1 long yellow central spine and 1 to 3 short radial spines. Quick Notes: Height: Up To About 3' to 8' but it sometimes grows to about 9 feet. Flowers: Red, Bronze, to golden brown, to Yellow-green in color. The flowers are about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Their lengths are from 1.7 to 2 centimeters.They have green to bronze anther filaments, a whitish to reddish style, and pale yellow - green stigma lobes. Anthers are yellow. Usually only a few flowers bloom at one time. Blooming Time: Late April into May. Sometimes into early June. Fruit: Mature fruit is green to pale yellow, with a red tinge. They remain on the plant throughout the winter. Stems: Green, pencil-like stems are � inch to about 1/2 inch in diameter and have usually 0 to 2 deflexed spines per areole, but there can be as many as 4 spines per areole. Spines: About 12 - 20 per areole and are 1/4" to 3/8" long, they tend to be reddish in color and they spread out in all directions. Jointed Stalks: The joints are narrow (4 - 12 inches long and about 3/4 inch thick). The spines are relatively sparse. Seeds: The seed is light tan in color 1/16 to 1/8 inch in diameter, they are irregular and rough. Found: The USDA claims it is native to the USA (AZ). It is also native to Mexico in the states of Chihuahua, & Sonora. Elevation: Naturally found from about 1,000 to 3,000 feet. Hardiness: USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 �C (40 �F) Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Habitat: The lower elevations of the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona, & southwestern New Mexico. Also in Sonora, Mexico. On the sandy desert, gravel slopes, and flat lands. Miscellaneous: We and other people, we have visited with; noticed that when touring the Saguaro National Park, which is in the Rincon Mountain Area, the flowers are usually red, while those in the Saguaro National Park Tucson Mountain area are usually yellow-green or bronze in color. Opuntia arbuscula, Pencil Cholla is salvage restricted in Arizona.

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