General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Fruit: Showy
Flowers: Showy
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Provides winter interest
Will Naturalize
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Drought tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Start indoors
Can handle transplanting
Other info: Fruit can take root and form a new plant without having to use its seeds; needs neutral soil pH
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Layering
Other: Easy to root from stem segments
Containers: Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil

Image
Common names
  • Cholla
  • Jumping Cholla
  • Hanging Chain Cholla
  • Chain Fruit Cholla
  • Cholla Brincadora
  • Velas de Coyote
  • Chainfruit Cholla
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Cylindropuntia fulgida
  • Synonym: Opuntia fulgida
  • Synonym: Cylindropuntia fulgida var. fulgida
  • Synonym: Opuntia fulgida var. fulgida

Photo Gallery
Location: Tucson Mountains
Date: 2018-06-23
Chain fruit cholla growing in a large cluster at the north end of
Location: South Bella Vista Drive, Tucson, AZ
Date: 2018-05-03
Jumping Cholla spine with Paper Sheath protecting the harpoon lik
Location: Along the Apache Trail, AZ.
Date: 2009-01-03
Location: Superstition Mtns, Arizona
Date: July 2007
foreground
Location: Morthern end of the Tucson Mountains
Date: 2018-06-23
Complete junmping cholla among many in the area
Location: 160 S Bella Vista Dr, Tucson, AZ
Date: 2018-06-07
20180607 Jumpin Cholla Flower
Location: Superstition Mtns, Arizona
Date: July 2007
Location: Superstition Mtns, Arizona
Date: July 2007
Superstition Mtns in background
Location: Along the Apache Trail, AZ.
Date: 2009-01-03
Detail of the characteristic chain fruit
Location: Superstition Mtns, Arizona
Date: July 2007
Photo by treehugger
Location: My garden in N E Pa. 
Date: 2015-03-07
Location: Superstition Mtns, Arizona
Date: July 2007
Location: Botanical Garden of Würzburg
Date: 2011-03-31
Growing outside in Germany
Location: Toscane
Date: 2013-05-04

Date: 2006-10-13
Photo: A. Madara
Location: Desert Botanical Garden   Phoenix, AZ
Date: 2024-04-08
Location: Desert Botanical Garden   Phoenix, AZ
Date: 2024-04-08

Photo Courtesy of Mountain Crest Gardens. Used with permission.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Comments:
  • Posted by lasertrimguy (Tucson, Arizona - Zone 8b) on Jun 25, 2018 11:10 AM concerning plant:
    A cactus garden will never take the place of a petting zoo. With this in mind, even a cactus garden will reach new levels of threat with Jumpers. Curve-billed thrashers will build their nests on the top of these plants because predators have not figured out how to climb over the nasty spines.

    Jumping Cholla branches have harpooned spines, each with a protective "paper" sheath to keep the barbs sharp for their moment of action. Touch a needle and it will securely anchor to your skin. Pull it out and the mooring quills will yank flesh and blood with them. If you reflexively grab a clinging branch with your hand, you will have suddenly inserted many more spines into your innocent self.

    SO DON'T PANIC

    GET TOOLS (fork, tongs or even sticks) AND SLOWLY PRY THE BRANCH OFF

    I have dozens of these beautiful cacti on my property. I have grown most of them from branches off of a mature plant. Stick a broken branch in the ground, right side up or upside down and it takes off.

    I have not seen this plant for sale in any local Tucson or Phoenix nursery. You cannot legally extract and transport this indigenous Arizona plant without a permit. I think you can transport branches without a permit and therefore you can start your own plants from gathered unrooted pieces.

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