Santa Fe Botanical Garden

Common name: tree cholla, cane cactus, cardón, abrojo, cardenche, coyonostle, tesajo, vela de coyote

Family: Cactaceae (Cactus)

Distribution: Central and Southwestern United States, Northern Mexico

Habitat: Plains, hillsides, scrublands, washes, pinon-juniper woodlands

Hardiness: USDA Zone 5 (-20 to -10 °F)

Life form: Cactus/succulent

Occurrence in New Mexico: New Mexico native plant

Growing Conditions: C. imbricata is native to southern Colorado, New Mexico, western Oklahoma, western Kansas, west Texas, southeast Arizona and northeastern Mexico. The tree cholla is found in a wide range of environments, including hot lowland deserts, grasslands, scrublands, piñon-juniper woodlands, hills, and plains, from 3,000-6,000 feet, and rarely up to 7,500 feet elevation. It is widespread in New Mexico’s blue grama and plains grasslands, and has become more widespread with the dramatic increase in Chihuahuan Desert shrubland due to overgrazing, drought, fire, and human disturbance. It is found in only scattered locations in the Four Corners region. It grows in full sun in dry, sandy to gravelly soils, especially on degraded soils. This species tolerates colder temperatures and higher elevations than many other cacti.