Christmas Cholla Cactus. Opuntia leptocaulis, Cactus Family ( Cactaceae ), Christmas Cholla Cactus. Also called: Tsejo, Pencil Joint Cholla, Holycross Cholla, Diamond Cactus, Darning Needle Cactus, Christmas cactus, desert Christmas cactus, desert Christmas cholla, pencil cactus, pencil cholla, rat-tail cactus, slender-stem cactus, alfilerillo, catalinaria, tasajillo, tasajo, pennopuntia, Opuntia leptocaulis, Opuntia frutescens, Opuntia ramulifera, Opuntia leptocaulis var. longispina, & Opuntia leptocaulis var. stipata. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. The Christmas Cholla commonly grows to 2' but will grow taller within other shrubs. Stem joints are only about 1/8" thick (smaller than pencil cholla). Each areole only has one long (2") spine. This spiny cactus often lives within other shrubs, blending in. The flowers are beautiful but only bloom during the late afternoon. This upright, shrub-like plant has many branches made up of slender, cylindrical joints. These narrow, spiny branches often twist together with the branches of adjacent plants to form inpenetrable thickets. New growth is dark green. With age the branches and trunk develop a scaly bark and turn pale tan. Small, attractive, yellowish-green flowers are followed by bright red fruits which cling to the stem into winter. Quick Notes: Height: Up To About 2' but it sometimes grows within the protection of the stems and leaves of other plants up to 3', so it can be hidden. It can reach 5.9 feet tall. Flowers: Light yellow to yellow-green in color, with occasional red tips. The flowers are about 1/2 inches in diameter. Flowering Time: May - June. Blossems only open in early afternoon and close at night. Fruit & Seeds: Small fruit is formed and becomes ripe in about December. They are bright red and they stay on plant throughout the winter. When consumed, they can have an intoxicating effect. Leaves: One long gray or light brown spine up to 2 inches long grows from each small cluster of reddish bristles or areole. Cactus thorns are modified leaves. Their shape conserves water and adds protection to the cactus plant. Trunk: Small 1" To 2" dark green trunk develops with age a scaly bark and turns pale brown. Jointed Stalks: Shrub-like plant has many branches made up of slender, cylindrical joints. The stems are 2 to 6 inches long, less than � inch in diameter. Thorns: White of a golden color, forming dense clusters along the ribs. They are large and slightly hooked. Found: On mesas, flats, valleys & washes in deserts. From Arizona, to Oklahoma, to New Mexico, and from Texas, into Northern Mexico; in the states of Mexico, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi, Sonora, Tamaulipas, & Zacatecas. Hardiness: 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: 5.6 to 6.0 (acidic) 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Elevation: 0 - 5,000 Feet. Habitat: Lower Elevations of the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. southeastern California, and . Also Sonora, Mexico. On sandy desert, and gravel slopes in the deserts and grass lands. Miscellaneous: Photos Taken May 12, 2005. Near Cave Creek, Arizona.