Buy Opuntia macrocentra

Also Known As

Opuntia violacea
Opuntia violacea var. macrocentra
Black Spine Prickly Pear
Purple Prickly Pear

Plant type

cactus / succulent

size

H: 2'-6'
W: 2'-4'

planting zones

7b-11

2-4 inch bagged root ball | $18

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Fewer than 25 at Cistus Nursery

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Opuntia macrocentra plant details

Opuntia macrocentra is an evergreen cactus / succulent with blue and green foliage. In spring and summer apricot and yellow flowers emerge followed by purple and red fruit. Features glaucous texture. Attracts bees and beneficial insects making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly sun and occasional - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in winter. Does well in gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Opuntia macrocentra

Plant type: cactus / succulent
Plant family: cactaceae
Foliage: evergreen blue and green
Mature size: 2 FT - 4 FT - wide, 2 FT - 6 FT - tall
Flowers: apricot and yellow blooms in spring and summer
Uses: container plant, desert garden, rock garden, xeric, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Opuntia macrocentra

USDA Zones: 7b - 11
Sun exposure: sun - mostly sun
Watering frequency: occasional - low
Resistant to: deer and rabbit, heat and verticillium wilt
Soil needs: gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained

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Nursery contributed plant descriptions

One of the most attractive of our SW natives, this from an intermediate population, having some characteristics of O. purpurea. Mounding to 4' or more, the pads a pleasant light blue turning pink in bright sun and in Winter, topped with dark spines. Well drained soil, bright sun, keep out of excessive winter wet, excellent in container, USDA Zone 7.

By: Cistus Nursery

Native throughout the SW United States Purple pads, low spreading, a few long black spines; Populations vary by location.

By: Cactus Jungle

Full Sun. Outdoor. 2-3" Yellow flowers with red centers.

By: Moon - Sun Cactus & Koi Gardens

Opuntia is the largest genus in the whole cactus family, and it also has the widest distribution, occurring from Canada all the way down to Argentina. Many of these plants have edible fruits, giving rise to their common name of “prickly pear”. A wonderful feature of many opuntias is that they make a colorful display twice a year, first when they come into flower, and then again when their fruits come ripe. Opuntia macrocentra is one of the prickly pears native to the U.S., where it grows in Texas, Arizona, and across the border in northern Mexico as well. It is not a tall plant, seldom reaching much more than 2 feet in height (60 cm). Plants expand laterally over time, eventually giving rise to a good-sized clump. The rounded pads are blue-green in color, often tinted purple where plants are exposed to strong light, and they have a few long spines. The pads are often incorrectly referred to as leaves, though they are in fact stem segments. In spring, Opuntia macrocentra has large yellow flowers, to 3 inches across (7.5 cm), usually with red centers. In fall, the showy reddish-purple fruits once again attract attention.