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Opuntia macrocentra (Black-Spine Prickly Pear)

Black-Spine Prickly Pear, Purple Prickly Pear, Red-joint Prickly Pear, Texas Santa Rita

Opuntia macrocentra, Black-Spine Prickly Pear, Purple Prickly Pear, Red-joint Prickly Pear, Texas Santa Rita, succulent, cactus, drought tolerant plant
Opuntia macrocentra, Black-Spine Prickly Pear, Purple Prickly Pear, Red-joint Prickly Pear, Texas Santa Rita, succulent, cactus, drought tolerant plant
Opuntia macrocentra, Black-Spine Prickly Pear, Purple Prickly Pear, Red-joint Prickly Pear, Texas Santa Rita, succulent, cactus, drought tolerant plant

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.

  • Typically grows up to 2-3 ft. tall (60-90 cm) and 3-6 ft. wide (90-180 cm).
  • Performs best in full sun or light shade, in well-drained soils. This plant tolerates a wide variety of soils as long as they are well-draining. Drought tolerant once established.
  • This low-maintenance plant is a great choice for xeriscape gardens, rock gardens, Mediterranean gardens and desert gardens.
  • This remarkable plant is deer resistant and is easy to care for.
  • Generally disease-free.
  • Propagate from woody stem cuttings or from seed.
  • Native to southeast Arizona, southern New Mexico, far west Texas.

Requirements

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
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 Arizona, New Mexico, Southwest, Texas, United States
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Opuntia santarita Tubac, Santa Rita Prickly Pear, Opuntia santa-rita, Opuntia gosseliniana var. santarita, Opuntia chlorotica var. santarita, Opuntia violacea var. santarita, pink succulent, pink cactus, purple cactus, drought tolerant plant,
Austrocylindropuntia subulata, Eve's Needle Cactus,  Eve's Needle, Cane Cholla, Eve's Pin, Eve’s Needle Cactus, Eve’s Pin Cactus, Long Spine Cactus, Eve's-Pin Prickleypear, Opuntia subulata
Cylindropuntia imbricata, Tree Cholla, Walking Stick Cholla, Cholla, Cane Cactus, Candelabrum Cactus, Cane Cholla, Coyote Candles, Opuntia imbricata
Cylindropuntia echinocarpa, Golden Cholla, Silver Cholla, Wiggins' Cholla, Opuntia echinocarpa, Opuntia wigginsii
Cylindropuntia bigelovii, Teddybear Cholla, Golden Spined Jumping Cholla, Teddy-Bear Cactus, Oso de Peluche, Teddy-Bear Cholla, Opuntia bigelovii
Opuntia elatior, Red-Flower Prickly Pear, Broad Prickly Pear, Cactus tuna var. elatior, Opuntia bergeriana, Opuntia megalantha, Opuntia nigricans, succulent, cactus, drought tolerant plant

Recommended Companion Plants

Aeonium haworthii 'Kiwi', Aeonium 'Kiwi', Succulent, Aeonium, Aeonium decorum 'Kiwi'
Crassula capitella 'Campfire', Campfire Crassula, Crassula 'Blaze', Crassula 'Flame', Red succullent, red crassula, drought tolerant plant, Mediterranean plant
Aloe maculata,Soap Aloe, Aloe saponaria, Orange flowers,Zebra Aloe
Sedum nussbaumerianum, Sedum Adolphii, Coppertone Stonecrop, Yellow Sedum, Red Sedum, Succuent, AGM Sedum
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

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
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 Arizona, New Mexico, Southwest, Texas, United States
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 Plants
Do I Need?
Learn Now
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Opuntia
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Opuntia
Not sure which Opuntia to pick?
Compare Now

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