O. arenaria is our smallest cholla, growing to only a few inches tall but often forming dense matts of plants. It is probably of interest to only a serious collector as it does not make a good addition to a typical home garden. It has loosely attached stems with numerous barbed spines than can easily become embeded in flesh or clothing. This species is not very common in our area but tends to prefer sandy soil and is more commonly found in sandy areas not far from the Rio Grande between El Paso and Las Cruces. It has also been found east of El Paso near the Hueco Mountains.