Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Coastal Cholla is a native shrub in the cactus family that grows in Southern California, primarily in the South Coast and Channel Islands regions. It tends to grow in ocean bluffs, at elevations from 0-1000 feet. Has magenta flowers that bloom in the spring.

Plant type

Shrub, Succulent

Size

10 ft Tall
1 - 5 ft Wide

Form

Upright

Calscape icon
Color

Purple, Red

Flowering season

Spring, Summer

Special uses

Containers, Hedge

Sun

Partial Shade, Full Sun

Water

Extremely Low, Very Low

Summer irrigation

Max 1x / month once established

Ease of care

Easy

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to 15° F

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Prefers sand or sandstone.
Soil PH: 6.1 - 7.8

Propagation

From stem cuttings or from seed (although seeds from fruits may be sterile).

Sunset Zones

14, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22*, 23*, 24*

Site type

Ocean bluffs, inland

Plant communities

Coastal Sage Scrub

Other dry-loving plants of Southern California such as Coyote Bush (Baccharis pilularis), Purple Three Awn (Aristida purpurea) or Coulter's Matilija Poppy (Romneya coulteri)

Bats
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 5 likely

Confirmed Likely

Cahela Moth

Cahela ponderosella

Dicymolomia opuntialis

Dyotopasta yumaella

Laetilia dilatifasciella