Transplanting
Cholla
Cactus

After our Wednesday Meeting we all got together to relocate several native cholla cacti from one part of the property to another. Using gloves, shovels, and long-handled tools, we transplanted the spiny plants into their new desert habitat.

Getting to Know Our Cholla

The cactus appears to be a type of cholla (Cylindropuntia), possibly silver cholla (Cylindropuntia echinocarpa), a native of the Mojave Desert.

Several similar cholla species grow in our region:

• - Silver cholla: Silvery, densely spined branches with a somewhat open, shrub-like appearance.
• - Teddy bear cholla: Exceptionally dense, golden spines that give the cactus a soft, fuzzy appearance from a distance.
• - Buckhorn cholla: More open branching with longer, antler-like stems and generally less densely packed spines.
• - Pencil cholla: Much thinner, pencil-like stems with relatively sparse spines.

Why Cholla Matter

Cholla provide valuable shelter and nesting protection for desert birds and habitat for smaller wildlife. Their detached stem segments can also take root, allowing new plants to establish naturally.

By relocating these cacti within Boulder Gardens, we are preserving existing desert vegetation while learning more about the remarkable plants that share our landscape.