Santa Rita Prickly Pear, Purple Prickly Pear, Opuntia santa-rita, Opuntia gosseliniana var. santarita, Opuntia chlorotica var. santarita, Opuntia violacea var. santarita
A very attractive species, Opuntia santa-rita (Santa Rita Prickly Pear) is an upright, bushy succulent shrub with colorful, round, ovate, fleshy pads. Covered with spines, the pads turn rich purple in winter before changing back to soft blue-gray with warmer temperatures. This purple pad coloration also intensifies in direct sunlight and drought. Sitting on the outer edges of the pads, large multi-petalled, yellow flowers appear in spring, creating a stunning contrast with the purple pads. They are followed by small edible purple fruits that are highly attractive to birds. Frost-hardy, Santa Rita Prickly Pear is a very decorative cactus that adds beauty to the garden year-round.
| Hardiness |
7 - 11 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
9 - 12 |
| Climate Zones | 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Cactus & Succulents |
| Plant Family | Cactaceae |
| Genus | Opuntia |
| Common names | Prickly Pear Cactus, Cactus, Purple Prickly Pear, Santa Rita Prickly Pear |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter |
| Height | 6' - 8' (180cm - 240cm) |
| Spread | 8' - 10' (240cm - 3m) |
| Spacing | 120" (3m) |
| 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 |
7 - 11 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
9 - 12 |
| Climate Zones | 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Cactus & Succulents |
| Plant Family | Cactaceae |
| Genus | Opuntia |
| Common names | Prickly Pear Cactus, Cactus, Purple Prickly Pear, Santa Rita Prickly Pear |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter |
| Height | 6' - 8' (180cm - 240cm) |
| Spread | 8' - 10' (240cm - 3m) |
| Spacing | 120" (3m) |
| 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 santa-rita (Santa Rita Prickly Pear) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Opuntia santa-rita (Santa Rita 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.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!
