Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Jumping Cholla
Jumping Cholla, also called chain-fruit cholla, is the tree-like cholla of south-central Arizona. Its most striking feature is the long, drooping chains of green fruit that hang from its arms and keep growing year after year. Pink flowers open from the old fruit in late spring and summer. It grows about 8 to 10 feet tall and wide, and needs no water once rooted.
Best for: large native desert yards, barrier or natural-fence spots far from paths, and wildlife gardens where cactus wrens can nest. It is a tree-form native that lives on rain once rooted.
It grows into a tree-like plant about 8 to 10 feet tall and about as wide, with drooping arms. It suits large native desert yards and open areas.
Flowers grow from the previous year's fruit, so the fruit builds hanging chains up to about 2 feet long. The chains stay on the plant for years.
Its dense spines make a natural fence along a far property line. Cactus wrens nest in its branches, and bees visit the flowers.
Its joints break off at a light touch and the barbed spines grip skin, clothes and fur. Keep it far from walkways, pools, play areas and dog runs. Wet soil also rots the roots.
- Closer planting4 ft apart, center to center
- Wider planting6 ft apart, center to center
Wait about a week after planting before the first water, then water every other week while nights stay above 60°F. Once it is rooted it needs no regular water, though in a summer with little rain you can water about once a month. In winter, water lightly and only if rain does not come.
Work around it with long tongs and thick leather gloves. Pick up fallen joints with tongs so they do not root where you do not want them. Keep a comb handy to flick off a joint that sticks.
It is hardy to about 15°F. On a hard freeze night, cover young plants with frost cloth or a sheet that reaches the ground, not plastic. Take it off in the morning.
Plant it with the side that faced the sun still facing south. A newly planted cactus can sunburn its first summer, so light shade cloth helps until fall.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
Does jumping cholla really jump?
No. Its barbs grip skin or clothing harder than the joint holds to the plant. When you brush past, the joint snaps off and seems to leap at you.
How do I remove a joint from skin or a dog?
Slide a comb between the joint and the skin and flick it away, clear of other people. Pull leftover spines with tweezers. A spine in a pet's eye needs a vet.
Where should I plant it?
Plant it in full sun, far from walkways, patios, pools, play areas and dog runs. A far property line or an open native area suits it.
How big does it get?
It averages about 8 feet tall and can reach 10 to 12 feet, with a spread about as wide. Give it open space far from paths.
What are the hanging chains?
They are chains of fruit. New flowers grow from last year's fruit, which then fruits again, building chains up to about 2 feet long that hang on for years.
When does it bloom?
Small pink to magenta flowers, about 1 inch across, open in late spring and summer, often in the afternoon.
How often should I water it?
Water a new plant about every 2 weeks through its first summer. Once it is rooted it needs no water, and wet or irrigated soil rots the roots.
How cold can it take?
It is hardy to about 15°F. On a hard freeze night, cover a young plant with frost cloth that reaches the ground, and keep the soil dry.
Will it spread?
Fallen joints and fruit root where they land, so it tends to form colonies. Pick up dropped joints with tongs if you do not want new plants.
Do birds nest in it?
Yes. Cactus wrens nest in its branches, and bees and other pollinators visit the flowers.
What is the difference between jumping cholla and teddy bear cholla?
Jumping cholla grows larger, about 8 to 10 feet, is less densely spined and hangs fruit chains. Teddy bear cholla stays 3 to 6 feet with dense golden spines.
Jumping Cholla for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Jumping Cholla is a native tree cholla of the Arizona desert, known for its hanging chains of fruit and its easily detached joints. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard, from size and where to plant it to handling, water, cold, fruit chains and wildlife.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Does jumping cholla actually jump?
No. The barbs grip harder than the joint holds on, so a light brush pulls the joint off and it seems to leap. Keep it far from paths.
How do you remove jumping cholla from a dog?
Slide a comb between the joint and the skin and flick it away. Pull leftover spines with tweezers. See a vet for any spine near the eye.
Why is it called chain-fruit cholla?
New flowers grow from last year's fruit, which fruits again. The fruit builds hanging chains up to about 2 feet long that stay for years.
How big does jumping cholla get?
Plan for about 8 to 10 feet tall and about 8 feet wide. It grows tree-like, with drooping arms, so give it open space far from paths.
Does jumping cholla need water in Phoenix?
Water a new plant about every 2 weeks through its first summer. Once it is rooted it needs no water, and wet soil rots it.
Do cactus wrens nest in jumping cholla?
Yes. Cactus wrens prefer to nest among cholla stems, and jumping cholla is a common nest site. Bees visit its pink flowers too.
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