Purple Prickly Pear, also known as Black-Spine Prickly Pear or Texas Santa Rita, is a clumping cactus renowned for its pads that turn a deep, rich purple in response to cold or drought stress. The pads are armed with long, black central spines and yellow glochids. Yellow flowers with red centers appear in spring, followed by reddish-purple fruits. Native to the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico, it’s exceptionally cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures below 0°F (-18°C).
| Family: | Cactaceae (kak-TAY-see-ee) |
| Genus: | Opuntia (op-UN-shee-a) |
| Species: | macrocentra (mak-roh-SEN-truh) |
| Synonym: | Opuntia violacea var. macrocentra |
| Synonym: | Opuntia violacea var. castetteri |
Full sun, extremely well-drained soil. Very drought-tolerant. Ideal for xeriscapes, rock gardens, and cold-climate cactus collections. Handle with care—glochids are irritating. Propagate from pad cuttings.
Brazilian Prickly Pear (Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis): A Tree-Like Cactus with Flattened Branches
Brittle Prickly Pear (Opuntia fragilis): The Most Cold-Hardy Prickly Pear, Fragmenting Easily
Silver Dollar Prickly Pear (Opuntia robusta): A Massive, Blue-Green Padded Cactus for Large Spaces
Tiger Pear (Opuntia aurantiaca): A Spreading, Invasive Prickly Pear with Orange Flowers
Prickly Pear 'Elongated Form' (Opuntia ficus-indica var. decumana)
Violet Prickly Pear (Opuntia gosseliniana): A Purple-Padded Beauty
Baby Rita Prickly Pear – Compact Purple Cactus with Carmine Flowers
Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa)
Mojave Prickly Pear (Opuntia phaeacantha): A Variable, Widespread Prickly Pear with Edible Fruit
Prickly Aloe (Aloe aculeata): A Heavily Armed Aloe
Cochineal Nopal Cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera): The Historic Dye Cactus
Plains Prickly Pear (Opuntia macrorhiza): A Tuberous-Rooted, Yellow-Flowered Cactus
Opuntia scheeri: A Shrubby, Red-Flowered Prickly Pear
Eltham Indian Fig (Opuntia dillenii): A Sprawling, Coastal Prickly Pear
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