Christmas cactus
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (DC.) F.M.Knuth
Christmas cactus is a succulent shrub of deserts and dry shrublands. Its native territory stretches from the southwestern United States into Mexico, where it forms part of the region’s dry-country cactus flora. Kew Plants of the World Online: Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
Botanical name
Kew accepts Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (DC.) F.M.Knuth in Cactaceae. Opuntia leptocaulis DC. is a homotypic synonym referring to the same botanical identity. Kew Plants of the World Online: Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
Recognizing the plant
The plant reaches roughly 0.5–1.8 m tall and branches sparsely or densely. Many short terminal branchlets project at right angles from the main axes. Its cylindrical stem segments are gray-green or purplish, generally 2–8 cm long but only 3–5 mm thick. Spine clusters commonly have no spine or a single spine, sometimes up to three. Small flowers have pale yellow to greenish-yellow inner petals, occasionally tipped red. The fleshy fruits are smooth and spineless, with colours ranging from yellow to scarlet. Flora of North America: Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
Bloom window
North American range treated by Flora of North America
Across its North American range, flowering is recorded from March through August, with additional autumn flowering reported in October. Flora of North America: Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
Native range
Its native range includes Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, continuing through northern and central Mexico into parts of southwestern Mexico. Kew Plants of the World Online: Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
Botanical sources
- Kew Plants of the World Online: Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
- Flora of North America: Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.