The Staghorn Thrives!

This is the flower of a Staghorn Cholla (choy-a) Cactus. It was a real surprise that this flower bloomed because it's usually in the spring.

The cactus it planted right next to the wall in my snowbird neighbor's yard but the arm extends over our shared wall and the flower bloomed on my side. It was at the tip of the arm.

The cactus is basically one long trunk, with arms (or branches) extending off of it in different directions. Some Staghorn get up to twelve feet in diameter but most are in the five to seven foot range.

Look here for examples and info about the Staghorn Cholla.