Desert Christmas Cactus can be grown in pots, added to cactus gardens, or placed in natural desert landscapes.
The Desert Christmas Cactus (Cylindropuntia leptocaulis) is found in parts of the United States, including Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, as well as in Mexico in areas like Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Durango, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas. It grows in deserts, grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, and on flat areas or slopes with sandy, loamy, or gravelly soil. You can find it at elevations between 130 and 4,920 feet (40 to 1,500 meters).
It has thin branches that may be lightly or heavily branched. It often grows up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall, usually as an upright shrub or sometimes as a small tree with a trunk up to 4 inches (10 cm) wide. The stem segments are gray-green or purplish, round, and covered in small ridges that look like wrinkles when dried. These segments can grow up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) long.
This cactus may have no spines or just a few at the tips of its main branches, usually one spine per spot, but sometimes up to three. The spines are straight or slightly curved, red-brown with a pale coating and yellow tips. It also has tiny yellow or reddish-brown bristles called glochids. The spots where the spines grow (called areoles) start off white or yellow and turn gray as the plant ages.
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis flowers are funnel-shaped and range in color from pale yellow to greenish-yellow, sometimes with red tips. They open in the afternoon and attract hawk moths and hummingbirds.
The fruits are fleshy, smooth, or covered with tiny bristles called glochids. They are usually red but can sometimes be yellow. The fruits contain pale yellow and obovate seeds (wider at the top). When eaten, the red berries of the Christmas cactus can have a hallucinogenic effect. The Apache uses them as a narcotic, while the Pima eats them raw as food.
Propagating Desert Christmas Cactus
You can grow Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (Christmas cactus) from either seeds or stem cuttings. Growing from seeds takes a long time—around 3 to 4 years to get a good-sized plant.
Using stem cuttings is much faster and easier. The best time to take cuttings is early summer, while seeds should be planted in late spring.
Ideal Growing Conditions for Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (Desert Christmas Cactus)
Light
Desert Christmas Cactus grows best in full sun. Indoors, place it near a window that gets sunlight for at least 6 hours a day. In very hot climates, some shade during midday and afternoon can help prevent sunburn.
Soil
This cactus needs well-draining soil. It grows best in sandy or gravelly soil but can adapt to other types if the drainage is good. You can use store-bought cactus soil or make your own mix.
Water
Water moderately from spring to fall. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. In most places, rain is enough for established plants.
For potted plants, make sure the pot doesn’t sit in water. Stop watering in winter.
Temperature
This cactus can handle very hot weather but prefers cooler temperatures in winter. C. leptocaulis can survive temperatures as low as 25°F (-3.9°C). It grows best in USDA Zones 9b to 11b, where temperatures range from 25 to 50°F (-3.9 to 10°C).
Desert Christmas Cactus Care
Fertilizer
Desert Christmas Cactus doesn’t need fertilizer if it’s planted in the ground. But if it’s in a pot, it helps to feed it during the growing season. Use a water-soluble fertilizer and stop feeding during winter when the plant is dormant.
Repotting
Report your desert Christmas Cactus only when it outgrows its pot or becomes too big and unsteady. Use a slightly larger pot with drainage holes. The best time to repot is in late winter or early spring.
Toxicity
Desert Christmas Cactus isn’t poisonous to people or pets, but it does have tiny spines (glochids) that can irritate the skin. It’s best to keep it out of reach of children and pets.
