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Hardiness: USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Sun Exposure: Full Sun Sun to Partial Shade
Danger: Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling
Bloom Color: Pale Yellow
Bloom Time: Mid Spring
Foliage: Succulent
Other details: Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Propagation Methods: From woody stem cuttings Allow cut surface to callous over before planting From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting: Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds Unblemished fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds
On Sep 25, 2008, kdaustin from Austin, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:
Purple color is stunning in the garden BUT tends to rot out easier than most opuntias in my experiance. We have wet winters here and I've had these just topple over going into spring. Also I have had the experiance of heavy winter damage to the pads, which was unsightly in my wildflower garden that spring. Still, I have several beautiful containerized specimens that have always done well, and have replanted more out in my yard. The flowers are stunning on the purple pads in spring, definately an eyecatcher.
On Mar 31, 2005, nevadagdn from Sparks, NV (Zone 7a) wrote:
I'm not sure if I managed to kill this or not. It certainly looks awful after the winter, and shows no signs of recovery--my other opuntias look awful, too, but they do show signs of recovery. It certainly wasn't poor drainage that did it in at any rate--I live in a desert and the yuccas on either side of this plant look fine.
On Dec 1, 2004, Xenomorf from Valley of the Sun, AZ (Zone 9b) wrote:
Sometimes confused with Opuntia gosseliniana.
O. gosseliniana has plain yellow flowers, O. santa-rita has yellow flowers with a bright red base.
O. santa-rita's new pads start out greenish then turn purpleish with age. O. gosseliniana's new pads start out purpleish then turn greenish with age.
O. gosseliniana gets to about 3.3 feet high, wilst Opuntia santa-rita gets to about 6.6 feet high and has larger pads.
Both species are very popular.
On Feb 27, 2004, palmbob from Tarzana, CA (Zone 9b) wrote:
Very attractive but a little slow growing for me. Has great color, but still the same old viscious spines. Small plants seem to be the most colorful
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Chandler Heights, Arizona Green Valley, Arizona Maricopa, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona Tucson, Arizona Willcox, Arizona Canoga Park, California San Marino, California Thousand Oaks, California Chicago, Illinois Easton, Maryland Elephant Butte, New Mexico Roswell, New Mexico Durham, North Carolina Portland, Oregon Rock Hill, South Carolina Arlington, Texas Austin, Texas (2 reports) Bend, Texas Red Oak, Texas Seadrift, Texas
5 members have or want this plant for trade.
