Black-Spine Prickly Pear, Purple Prickly Pear, Red-joint Prickly Pear, Texas Santa Rita
Striking in any setting, Opuntia macrocentra (Black-Spine Prickly Pear) is a bushy succulent shrub with colorful, round, ovate, fleshy pads. Covered with long dark spines, generally at the top of the pads, the pads often turn purple or magenta in cold weather or in drought, before changing back to blue-green with warmer temperatures. This plant spreads sideways more than upwards, and does not develop a central trunk. Sitting on the outer edges of the pads, large, bright yellow flowers adorned with a red heart, 3 in. across (7 cm), appear in spring, creating a stunning contrast with the purple pads. They are followed by showy reddish-purple fruits which attract attention and remain through the winter, making Opuntia macrocentra a very decorative cactus in the landscape. Cold hardy.
Hardiness |
6 - 11 |
---|---|
Climate Zones | 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Cactus & Succulents |
Plant Family | Cactaceae |
Genus | Opuntia |
Common names | Cactus, Purple Prickly Pear, Prickly Pear Cactus |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter |
Height | 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
Spread | 3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm) |
Spacing | 72" (180cm) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Low |
Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Southwest, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico |
Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
Attracts | Birds |
Garden Uses | Beds And Borders |
Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden |
Hardiness |
6 - 11 |
---|---|
Climate Zones | 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Cactus & Succulents |
Plant Family | Cactaceae |
Genus | Opuntia |
Common names | Cactus, Purple Prickly Pear, Prickly Pear Cactus |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter |
Height | 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
Spread | 3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm) |
Spacing | 72" (180cm) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Low |
Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Southwest, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico |
Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
Attracts | Birds |
Garden Uses | Beds And Borders |
Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden |
How many Opuntia macrocentra (Black-Spine Prickly Pear) do I need for my garden?
Plant | Quantity | |
---|---|---|
Opuntia macrocentra (Black-Spine Prickly Pear) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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