Cylindropuntia wolfii is native to Sonoran Desert, in the Colorado Desert of Southern California, and in Baja California, Mexico.

Cylindropuntia wolfii is an erect cactus which can approach 2 meters in maximum height.

It has many narrow branches made up of woolly, yellowish green, cylindrical segments, the surface divided into wide tubercles bearing many brownish spines up to 3 centimeters in length.

The flower is brownish purple outside to yellowish green in the center.

The bumpy, spiny, dry fruit is up to 3 centimeters long.