Purple Prickly Pear
Opuntia santa-rita
A showstopper prickly pear with vivid purple pads that intensify in winter cold, paired with bright pink spring blooms.
Cold hardy to around 10-15°F, USDA 9-11; adapted to Chihuahuan and Sonoran low and mid desert.
AMWUA Notes
Native and extremely drought tolerant; its purple color intensifies under low water.
Care Guide
Needs very little water once established; an occasional deep soak keeps pads plump, but overwatering fades the purple color and causes rot.
Remove damaged pads at the joint with gloves and tongs; thin to control the spread.
None needed; lean, dry conditions intensify the purple pad color.
Cochineal scale is the chief pest; wash off cottony colonies promptly.
Pads deepen to vivid purple with winter cold and drought stress, with bright pink flowers following in spring.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Lean, sharp-draining decomposed granite; low organic matter intensifies the purple color
Needs sharp, fast-draining soil.
None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.
Pads root readily after callusing; also seed
6 ft
Shallow, non-invasive roots; keep glochid-bearing pads off walkways and pool decks
Placement Tips
- •Site as a color specimen or in containers where the purple pads show.
- •Keep the glochid-bearing pads off walkways and pool decks.
- •Plant in lean, sharp-draining granite in full sun to maximize color.
- •Combine with silver and green cacti for contrast.
Features
Best Uses
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
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Use this care guide to maintain your Purple Prickly Pear. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.