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skill rating
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Opuntia bigelovii (Teddybear cactus)
1 hour care
per year
per year
2m
Max height
Max height
0.9m
Max spread
Max spread
10-20 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Opuntia bigelovii
Other names
Teddybear cactus, Teddy bear chollo, Cylindropuntia bigelovii
Genus
Opuntia Opuntia
Species
O. bigelovii - O. bigelovii is tender, slow-growing, tree-like, perennial cactus with a woody trunk covered with black spines and cylindrical, brittle joints densely covered with extremely sharp, silvery-yellow spines. Pale green, yellow, or white flowers rarely bloom in early spring.
Opuntia bigelovii is: Evergreen
Habit
Upright
Toxicity
Plant has spines; use extreme caution when handling.
Flower
Yellow, Orange in Spring; Yellow, Orange in Summer
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Mealybugs , Scale insects Mealybugs , Scale insects
Diseases
Generally disease-free
General care
Propagation
Soak and then sow at 21C in spring. Root stem segments in summer.
Propagation methods
Seed
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Where to grow
Opuntia bigelovii (Teddybear cactus) will reach a height of 2m and a spread of 0.9m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Conservatory, Containers, Drought Tolerant, Gravel, Indoor, Rock
Cultivation
Grow under glass in cactus compost, in full light. In the growing season, water when the compost is dry. Feed 3-4 times from early spring to mid-autumn. Outdoors, grow in frost-free areas in sharply-drained soil in full sun.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Opuntia bigelovii
Other names
Teddybear cactus, Teddy bear chollo, Cylindropuntia bigelovii
Genus
Opuntia Opuntia
Species
O. bigelovii - O. bigelovii is tender, slow-growing, tree-like, perennial cactus with a woody trunk covered with black spines and cylindrical, brittle joints densely covered with extremely sharp, silvery-yellow spines. Pale green, yellow, or white flowers rarely bloom in early spring.
Native to
Mexico
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Upright
Toxicity
Plant has spines; use extreme caution when handling.
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Colour
Flower
Yellow, Orange in Spring; Yellow, Orange in Summer
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Diseases
Generally disease-free
General care
Propagation
Soak and then sow at 21C in spring. Root stem segments in summer.
Propagation methods
Seed
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Opuntia bigelovii (Teddybear cactus) will reach a height of 2m and a spread of 0.9m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Conservatory, Containers, Drought Tolerant, Gravel, Indoor, Rock
Cultivation
Grow under glass in cactus compost, in full light. In the growing season, water when the compost is dry. Feed 3-4 times from early spring to mid-autumn. Outdoors, grow in frost-free areas in sharply-drained soil in full sun.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9
Defra's Risk register #1
Plant name
Opuntia bigelovii (Teddybear cactus)
Common pest name
grape ground pearl
Scientific pest name
Margarodes vitis
Type
Insect
Current status in UK
Absent
Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
2
Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
5
General biosecurity comments
Main pathway; Vitis spp. plants for planting; already prohibited. However; further consideration of other pathways is required.
About this section
Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.
Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here
Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.
Date updated: 7th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
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