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Native Plant Database

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Cylindropuntia bigelovii (Teddybear cholla)
Flaigg, Norman G.

Cylindropuntia bigelovii (Engelm.) F.M. Knuth

Teddybear cholla

Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Synonyms: Opuntia bigelowii

USDA Symbol: CYBI9

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A miniature tree, the upper half with short, stubby branches densely covered with pale golden spines. Flowers green or yellow, the petals often streaked with lavender.

Though the branches resemble the arms and legs of a fuzzy teddy bear, this plant is far from cuddly. With its painfully clinging spines, it is one of the most formidable and respected Cacti of the Southwest.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Size Notes: Up to 3 feet high.
Flower: Flowers 1 1/2 inch long and across
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , Jun , Jul , Aug
Bloom Notes: Diurnal

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , NV
Native Distribution: Southeastern California to western Arizona; south to northwestern Mexico, Baja California.
Native Habitat: Hot, dry rocky slopes in deserts.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Heat Tolerant: yes
Conditions Comments: Minimum temperature 50F

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA

Bibliography

Bibref 1140 - Cacti (1991) Clive Innes and Charles Glass
Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Cylindropuntia bigelovii in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Cylindropuntia bigelovii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Cylindropuntia bigelovii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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