Santa Fe Botanical Garden
Santa Fe Botanical Garden
Santa Fe Botanical Garden
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Taxon
Cylindropuntia
whipplei
'Snow Leopard'
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Image: Cristina Salvador
Common name:
'Snow Leopard' cholla
Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus)
Distribution:
Cultivated
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 5 (-20 to -10 °F)
Life form:
Cactus/succulent
Occurrence in New Mexico:
Cultivar
Growing Conditions:
This species is native to high elevations of the Colorado Plateau from northern Arizona to the Four Corners region, at elevations from 4,400-7,400 feet. Like other chollas, it is extremely drought tolerant. These chollas grow on hillsides, plains and in grasslands, and can form dense, low spiny thickets which can impede grazing. The plant is extremely cold hardy, surviving below zero degrees F. It will also survive cold, wet conditions.
Description:
‘Snow Leopard’ cholla grows 1-4 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide. The plant is often more upright in warm parts of Arizona, but may form dense, low spiny thickets in colder areas. It has many branches and the joints are not easily detached. The stems are densely covered with pale yellow or silvery-white spines. It produces 2-inch yellow flowers in June. Yellowish-green fruits persist for a year or more.
Links:
SFBG Plant of the Month
Locations
1:
Rose & Lavendar Walk
• Accession: 2020-0013/1 • Origin: United States of America • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
2:
Stone Spiral Columns
• Accession: 2017-0128/1 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
3:
Xeric/Dry Garden
• Accession: 2024-0418 (2) • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
Area
Individual