Accession Count: 19
Common Name:
Santa Rita prickly pear
Family Name:
Cactaceae
Botanical Name:
Opuntia santarita
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Opuntia santarita is a uniquely striking species of prickly pear as its blades turn violet purple in winter and times of drought (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). The blades have no spines, only glochids with loosely attached yellow fibers (1, 2, 4). The pads on the santarita prickly pear are obovate shaped and green with a reddish-purple tinge. Cold weather brings out the purple tinge on these pads. In late Spring, yellow flowers, three and a half inches in diameter, form along the edges of the uppermost pads, followed by red-purple fruits one to two inches tall (1, 2, 4).
Compound:
opu san
Geographic Origin:
Sonora, Chihuahua, Baja California
Ecozone Origin:
Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
O. santarita native population is in the Southwest Desert. This region included South Arizona, Texas and south to North Mexico (4).
Cultivation Notes:
Opuntia santarita is an excellent xeriscaping plant as it has very low
water needs, and can usually survive just fine off of Arizona’s
infrequent rainfall (1, 2). It is tolerant to a wide range of soils as
long as they are well drained (1, 2, 3, 4). This plant is quite low
maintenance and as long as it gets a decent amount of sun it should be
self-sufficient (1, 2, 3).
Ethnobotany:
O. santarita will attract hummingbirds, lizards, and other small animals, especially while in bloom (4).
Height:
0 - 5 feet
Width:
0 - 5 feet
Growth Rate:
Moderate Growing
Grow Season:
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
Yellow
Function:
Habitat
Spread:
Spreading
Allergen:
Allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
