r/cactus • u/Pressthebet • 1d ago

Monstrose cholla

Gallery image

Gallery image

I live in NW Tucson where native cholla are abundant. However I have never seen a monstrose mutation. I was taking a walk this morning and noticed this in a neighbor’s yard. Needless to say, I will be hoping to have a conversation with them about a cutting or two which I would graft onto some rootstock. And if it ever flowers, I will definitely try to get some seed. Here is what I found on Google about it.
The monstrose cholla—most commonly known as the Boxing Glove Cactus or Crested Cholla (Cylindropuntia fulgida var. mamillata f. monstrosa)—is a rare, naturally occurring mutation of the chain fruit or jumping cholla native to the Sonoran Desert in south-central Arizona and parts of Mexico

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u/MessyRides 1d ago

I’m just north of you actually! Fair forewarning, I spoke with Ty at Arizona Cactus Sales regarding that Boxing Gloves Cholla. I was going to bring a cutting home but he said they are very prone to rot and bring in cochineal scale bugs. I didn’t want to risk the rest of the cacti in my yard so I’m going to admire this one from afar 😂

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u/Pressthebet 1d ago

Interesting… I spoke with my neighbor about it. He said a friend gave it to him about 4 years ago, and he estimated it has quadrupled in size. He is going to let me take a few cuttings of the non monstrose segments, so hopefully they mutate.

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u/Remarkable_Peach_374 23h ago

I've got one of my own! This is how it started (will send a second/maybe third pic if I can find the rooted cut)

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u/Remarkable_Peach_374 23h ago

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u/Remarkable_Peach_374 23h ago

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u/Remarkable_Peach_374 23h ago

This is almost a year of growth

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u/Pressthebet 21h ago

Pretty impressive growth really for just one year!

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u/Remarkable_Peach_374 21h ago

It gets very hot here, absolute paradise for a lot of these cacti 😄 as a matter of fact, I'm right in their native range! I have a chain fruit cholla too (jumping cholla) that my neighbor gave me a few cuttings of!

This pic is after some storms, I took all those cuttings (and a few larger ones) to propagate

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u/Pressthebet 19h ago

Very nice!

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u/Rayrexx91 1d ago

I have had one of these since March and had no idea what it was lol

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u/Acceptable_Agent4072 1d ago

What a beauty!

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u/West-Beach744 1d ago

I would definitely be knocking on that person's door for a cutting!

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u/NeatAd3820 1d ago

That’s awesome

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u/abks 1d ago

I also live in the Tucson area and have a crested cholla in my yard! Not looking super great though, unfortunately

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u/Pressthebet 1d ago

Bummer! It looks like maybe it’s trying to make a comeback! I hope it does!