Santa Rita Prickly Pear
Opuntia santa-rita. USDA zone 7a-11b, hardy to 10F. Lives: Patio.
About this Santa Rita Prickly Pear
Opuntia santa-rita is a medium to large prickly pear native to the desert grasslands and rocky slopes of southern Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico. It is best known for its dramatic pad coloration: the thick, nearly round pads are blue-green in warm weather but shift to deep purple-violet under cold temperatures, drought stress, or intense sun — making it one of the most visually striking cacti in any collection regardless of season. Pads typically reach 6–8 inches in diameter and carry sparse but stout brownish-purple spines, or sometimes appear nearly spineless. In spring it produces large, showy yellow flowers with red centers, followed by deep reddish-purple fruits that are edible and sweet. It is surprisingly cold-hardy for a prickly pear, tolerating temperatures well below 10°F, and performs well in a wide range of well-draining soils.
Ordered from CactusOutlet.com and joining the Norman patio setup. The purple coloration on the pads is the main draw — when the temperatures drop this fall it should put on a show.