Opuntia bigelovii Teddy Bear Cholla Cactus LG 1

TEDDY BEAR CHOLLA

The Teddy-bear Cholla (Opuntia bigelovii) is a cactus native to California, Nevada, and Arizona (USA) and north western Mexico. They grow in desert regions at elevations from 30 to 600 m (100 to 2000 ft). It is an attractive plant, having a soft appearance due to its solid mass of very formidable spines that completely cover the stems. From a distance, the stems appear soft and fuzzy, giving it the name "Teddy bear". The Teddy-bear Cholla is an erect plant, standing 1-2 m (3-5 ft) tall with a distinct trunk. The branches are at the top of the trunk and are nearly horizontal. Lower branches typically fall off, and the trunk darkens with age. The silvery-white spines, which are actually a form of leaf, almost completely obscure the stem with a fuzzy-looking, but impenetrable, defence.

Recommended Sunset Magazine Temperature Zone: 10-13

Frost Tolerance: Hardy to 5°F (-15°C)

This specimen is over 7 feet tall. We found it near the Colorado River south east of Las Vegas.

They are kind of hard to find in the desert. But when you find them, they tend to grow in large colonies. Here's a colony growing with Fire Barrel Cacti.