| Description: The Purple Prickly Pear grows in clumps, usually to about 4' tall and wide. The leaf pads develop a purple tinge with colder temperatures. These pads are also covered with large, black spines. Flowers appear in late spring, and are yellow with red centers. The rich purple pads provide plenty of interest. During the summer, the pads are a soft blue-grey color. Bright yellow flowers to 3 inches in diameter produce red to purple fruit.
Maintenance: Purple Prickly Pear is very drought tolerant, needing little to no water once fully established. Plant this cactus in full sun. Purple Prickly Pear is susceptible to cochineal scale, which appears as a white cottony tuft. Spaying the scale off with water can control it. |
