Purple Prickly Pear
Opuntia violacea var. santa-rita, Cactus Family ( Cactaceae ), Purple Prickly Pear. Also called: Opuntia macrocentra var. macrocentra, Opuntia violacea var. castetteri, Opuntia violacea var. macrocentra, Santa Rita Pricklypear, Blue Blade, Dollar Cactus, Black Spine Prickly Pear, Red Joint Prickly Pear, Texas Santa Rita.
Santa Rita Prickly Pear is native to Texas, Arizona and Northern Mexico. It grows to about 3 - 5 feet in height and spread. It's round pads have a bluish tint and in winter or times of drought turn red or purple.
The flowers are yellow.
A xeriscape landscape plant.
Height: Height to about 5 feet.
Flowers: The yellow flowers are about 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches in diameter.
Blooming Time: April to May.
Leaves: Blue - purple, or magenta cactus pads are 4 to 6 inches in diameter, about 5/8 inches thick. They are almost round and flat. They have 1 or 2 spines per areole and have glochids (little barbed bristles organized in clusters) which can penetrate the skin.
Fruit: Red-purple fruit, 1 to 1-1/2 inches long, 3/4 to 1 inches in diameter persisting into the winter. Seeds 3/16 inches in diameter, tan to grey, elliptic.
Elevation: 0 - 5500 Feet.
Habitat: Gravel or sandy flats, mesas, hillsides. A xeriscape landscape plant in some places. Native to Texas, Arizona and Northern Mexico.
Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken At Peoria. A xeriscape landscape plant. April 21, 2005.
