The Bunched Cory Cactus was first listed as threatened in 1979.  This cactus is only known to occur in limited areas of Texas and Mexico.  The species has been identified in Big Bend National Park and on private land in Texas and Mexico.  In order to help increase natural populations of the buched cory cactus, a recovery plan was developed in 1989 that will eventually remove the species from the list of threatened and endangered species.  Encouraging protective management on private lands was mentioned as an important step toward achieving this goal.

    Growing within Big Bend National Park and on large private ranches, this cactus is fairly well protected from cactus collectors due to how remote the locations are.  However, several sites within the Big Bend area are well known, and even though the sites are monitored, some of the bunched cory cactus still fall prey to cactus poachers.  Agricultural chemicals are very seldom used in the sparsely vegetated areas where the bunched cory cactus grows, and as a result, they are not identified as a significant threat.  Some herbicides that are in use in the area of the bunched cory cactus' habitat are a concern and are being monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The EPA must prevent pesticide use from impacting federally protected species according to the Endangered Species Act.

    The bunched cory cactus flowers from July to September and the fruit matures from late August to November.