Baby Rita Prickly Pear
Opuntia x basilaris 'Baby Rita'
SKU
06950
An exceptional heat-loving dwarf hybrid with brilliant carmine colored flowers in a small padded, purple-skinned prickly pear. Thrives in a range from coast to inland deserts, and even into high altitude mountain areas! Loaded with spring blooms, the blue-grey purple-tinged foliage color intensifies to a vibrant purple in winter. Evergreen.
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Full sun
Once established, water occasionally; more in extreme heat or containers.
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| Botanical Pronunciation | op-UN-shee-a |
|---|---|
| Lore | Prickly pear cactus has been a staple of the Mexican and Central American diet for thousands of years. In parts of the U.S. it has been gaining popularity as an exotic, gourmet and healthy addition to one's diet. The prickly pear plant has three different edible sections: the pad of the cactus (nopal), which can be treated like a vegetable, the petals of the flowers, which can be added to salads, and the pear (tuna), which can be treated like a fruit. |
| Average Size at Maturity | Slow growing; forms clumps 8 in. tall, 24 in. wide. |
| Bloom Time | Spring |
| Deciduous/ Evergreen | Evergreen |
| Flower Attribute | Showy Flowers |
| Flower Color | Pink |
| Garden Style | Contemporary, Mediterranean, Rustic, Xeric |
| Growth Habit | Mounding |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Landscape Use | Barrier, Container, Firescaping/Firewise, Houseplant, Rock Garden |
| Light Needs | Full sun |
| Soil Needs | All-Purpose Plant Food |
| Special Feature | Dramatic Foliage Color, Dwarf Plant, Easy Care, Gift Plant, Tolerates Poor Soils, Waterwise, Tolerates Urban Pollution, Heat Loving |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Watering Needs | Once established, water occasionally; more in extreme heat or containers. |
| Companion Plants | Agave (Agave); Sedum (Sedum); Rock Rose (Cistus); Aloe (Aloe); Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum); Red Yucca (Hesperaloe) |
Grows easily in average to lean, rocky, unimproved, fast-draining soils with low moisture. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish root system, allowing soil to become fairly dry between intervals. Once established, reduce frequency; tolerates drought. Avoid excess winter moisture. Fertilize sparingly in spring.
This Plant's Growing Zones: ALL
Your USDA Cold Hardiness Zone:
Grow Indoors in All Zones