 | Klein Cholla, Tasajillo, Candle Cholla Opuntia kleiniae Cactaceae Limestone rocky hills of desert areas at 3000 to 4000 feet in the Trans-Pecos and desert shrub along the Rio Grande, west through New Mexico and Arizona, and into Mexico are the preferred habitat of Klein cholla. This open-crowned, sprawling, slender plant with cylindrical branches is nearly trunkless. Its older stems become woody. The terminal branches have noticeable tubercles bearing greyish or pink spines less than one inch long, which may be single or four to a cluster. Pinkish to lavender flowers produce long persistent red fruit which is also strongly tubercled, spineless, fleshy and a bit juicy. The Klein cholla's traits vary greatly over a large area: those in the Davis Mountains are somewhat different from those near the Rio Grande. A typical form is hard to determine; perhaps more than one taxon exists in the Trans-Pecos. So some experts espouse additional taxonomic study.
Plant Habit or Use: small shrub Exposure: sun Flower Color: red to pinkish - purple or lavender Blooming Period: spring Fruit Characteristics: reddish orange to green and red, smooth, fleshy Height: 2 to 6.5 feet Width: 2 to 3 feet Plant Character: evergreen Heat Tolerance: very high Water Requirements:
Soil Requirements: neutral Additional Comments:
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