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// SPECIES PROFILE · PERENNIAL · NATIVE

Thistle cholla

Cylindropuntia tunicata

Thistle cholla (Cylindropuntia tunicata) is a perennial in the — family. Native range includes OK — verified against the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center native distribution database. Hardy in zones 4a–10a. Mature size 17"–2'.

// QUICK FACTS
Family
—
Group
perennial
Native range
Native to NM, OK, TX
USDA hardiness
Zones 4a–10a
Mature size
17"–2'
Sun
Full sun
Water
Low · xeric
Bloom
—
Wildlife value
Pollinator and wildlife support
Ecological role
native species profile
Thistle cholla (Cylindropuntia tunicata)
Cylindropuntia tunicata — Thistle cholla. Photo by Amante Darmanin from Malta via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).

Field Notes

[ growing · ecology · siting · care ]

Thistle cholla (Cylindropuntia tunicata) is a perennial in the — family. Native range includes OK — verified against the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center native distribution database. Hardy in zones 4a–10a. Mature size 17"–2'. Low water use makes it a strong candidate for xeric and drought-conscious plantings.

Why it's on this list: native species profile. Native-range data from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (NPIN), cross-checked against iNaturalist observations. Part of Rooted Revival's regional native plant catalog — true natives for Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas.

Companion Planting

[ guild · polyculture · cross-layer pairings ]

In the same native range, thistle cholla pairs naturally with: Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium), Broadleaf Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia), Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis).

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