Teddy bear cholla

Cylindropuntia bigelovii

Family:: Cactaceae
Elevation:: 300 ft – 3,000 ft
Bloom:: Feb – May
Region:: Southwest

A small treelike cholla whose densely silver-spined joints glow when backlit, giving a deceptively soft, fuzzy look. Its detachable segments cling ferociously to anything that brushes them, earning the 'jumping cholla' name.

Care · tuned to the Southwest

Water

Extremely drought tolerant; needs essentially no supplemental water once established and stores moisture in its jointed stems. Overwatering and standing water cause rot; water sparingly and only in warm months.

Sun & exposure

Full sun and intense reflected heat; loves the hottest, most open exposures.

Soil

Wants gritty, rocky, sandy, alkaline, sharply drained desert soil; intolerant of heavy or wet ground.

In the Southwest

Lower-desert Sonoran species that is frost-sensitive and not reliable in colder high-desert winters. The barbed spines and detachable joints are a serious hazard to people and pets — segments cling and are hard to remove, so site it well away from paths. Provides nesting cover for desert birds and packrats.

Common problems & fixes

Overwatering and basal rot — the base blackens and softens in wet soil
Fix — Plant in gritty, fast-draining soil and rely on natural rainfall once established.
Cochineal scale — white cottony patches on the stem segments
Fix — Wash colonies off with a firm spray of water and treat persistent cases with insecticidal soap.

Pets & toxicity

No chemical toxicity, but the barbed spines and clinging joints are a significant physical hazard to dogs and other pets.

Easy to confuse with

Chain-fruit cholla (Cylindropuntia fulgida) — taller, with hanging chains of fruit
Buckhorn cholla (Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa) — more open, less densely spined, greener stems

Sources

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