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herbicide for prickly pear cactus

herbicide for prickly pear cactus Buy Purple Prickly Pear Phoenix, AZ | Opuntia santa-rita

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herbicide for prickly pear cactus Buy Purple Prickly Pear Phoenix, AZ | Opuntia santa-ritaArizona's Most Colorful Native Cactus Purple Pads Year Round The Purple Prickly Pear (Opuntia santa rita) is the showstopper of the prickly pear family and one of the most eye catching native cacti you can plant in a Phoenix landscape. Its broad, flat pads shift from blue green to deep purple under cold or drought stress meaning you get stunning color exactly when your garden needs it most. Growing just 23 feet tall and spreading 35 feet wide, this

Arizona's Most Colorful Native Cactus — Purple Pads Year-Round

The Purple Prickly Pear (Opuntia santa-rita) is the showstopper of the prickly pear family and one of the most eye-catching native cacti you can plant in a Phoenix landscape. Its broad, flat pads shift from blue-green to deep purple under cold or drought stress — meaning you get stunning color exactly when your garden needs it most. Growing just 2–3 feet tall and spreading 3–5 feet wide, this low-growing cactus produces showy yellow flowers with red-orange centers in spring, followed by edible reddish-purple fruit. Whether you're building a drought-tolerant front yard in Scottsdale, filling a rocky slope in Fountain Hills, or creating a native cactus garden in Mesa — Purple Prickly Pear delivers year-round color with zero irrigation once established.

Purple Prickly Pear Plant Details

Attribute Detail
Scientific Name Opuntia santa-rita
Common Names Purple Prickly Pear, Santa Rita Prickly Pear, Violet Prickly Pear
Mature Height 2–3 feet
Mature Width 3–5 feet (spreading)
Growth Rate Moderate — fills in within 1–2 years in Phoenix
Sun Full sun (6+ hrs). Handles reflected heat from walls and pavement.
Water Extremely low once established. Thrives on rainfall alone in Phoenix.
USDA Zones 8–11 (Phoenix is Zone 9b–10a)
Soil Well-draining. Adapts to Arizona caliche and rocky native soils.
Foliage Evergreen — pads stay year-round, turn purple in cold/drought
Native Status Native to Arizona, southern New Mexico, and northern Mexico

Purple Prickly Pear Uses in Phoenix Landscapes

Drought-Tolerant Front Yard & Xeriscape

Purple Prickly Pear is the ultimate zero-water landscape plant once established. Mass-plant 3–5 specimens across a gravel or decomposed granite bed for a colorful, maintenance-free front yard. The purple pads pop against warm-toned gravel — a look that's become a signature of modern Scottsdale and Gilbert xeriscapes. Pair with Golden Barrel Cactus and Desert Spoon for texture contrast.

Native Cactus Garden

Create an authentic Sonoran Desert garden by grouping Purple Prickly Pear with Engleman's Prickly Pear, Mexican Fence Post, and Totem Pole cactus. The color contrast between the purple pads and the green columnar cacti creates a striking display. This combination thrives in Tempe, Chandler, and Mesa with almost no supplemental water.

Slope & Erosion Control

The spreading growth habit and dense root system make Purple Prickly Pear an excellent choice for stabilizing slopes and hillsides in Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, and north Scottsdale. Plant 3 feet apart on slopes — the pads will knit together within 2 seasons to create a colorful, erosion-resistant groundcover.

Wildlife & Pollinator Garden

The spring flowers attract native bees and butterflies, while the edible fruit feeds birds and desert wildlife through summer. Plant near a patio or window in Peoria or Glendale for front-row wildlife viewing.

Best Time to Plant Purple Prickly Pear in Phoenix

Fall (October–November) is ideal — warm soil encourages root growth while cooler air reduces transplant stress. This gives your prickly pear 6–8 months of root establishment before its first Phoenix summer. Spring (February–April) is the second-best window. Avoid planting in peak summer if possible, though established Purple Prickly Pear is incredibly heat-tolerant.

How to Plant Purple Prickly Pear

  1. Dig wide, not deep — 2–3x the root ball width, same depth as the container.
  2. Check for caliche — break through any hardpan layer for drainage. Prickly pear will rot in standing water.
  3. Backfill with native soil — no amendments needed. This cactus prefers lean, rocky soil.
  4. Spacing — 3 feet apart for mass planting or slope coverage; 4–5 feet for individual specimens.
  5. Water basin — build a shallow ring to direct water to roots during establishment only.
  6. Mulch — 2–3 inches of gravel or decomposed granite. Never use organic mulch against cacti.

Watering Purple Prickly Pear in Phoenix

First Year Watering Schedule

Weeks 1–2: Every 3–4 days, deep and slow. Month 1–2: Every 7–10 days. Month 3–6: Every 2 weeks. After Year 1: Rainfall only in most Phoenix locations. Supplement once monthly in peak summer only if pads look shriveled.

Drip Irrigation

Place one 1 GPH emitter 12 inches from the base during the first year. After establishment, remove or turn off supplemental irrigation — overwatering is the #1 killer of prickly pear in Phoenix landscapes.

How fast does Purple Prickly Pear grow in Phoenix?
Moderate growth — a 1-gallon plant will fill a 3–4 foot area within 2 years in full sun. New pads emerge in spring and summer, each one adding to the spreading clump.

Why do the pads turn purple?
The purple coloring intensifies during cold weather (winter) and drought stress. It's caused by anthocyanin pigments — the same compounds that make blueberries blue. The more stress, the deeper the purple. In summer with regular water, pads shift back toward blue-green.

Is Purple Prickly Pear fruit edible?
Yes! The reddish-purple fruit (called tunas) is edible and has been used in traditional Southwestern cuisine for centuries. Harvest with tongs in late summer — they make excellent jams, syrups, and agua fresca.

Does Purple Prickly Pear have spines?
Purple Prickly Pear has fewer spines than most prickly pear species, but it does have glochids (tiny hair-like barbs). Plant it at least 3 feet from walkways and play areas. Use leather gloves when handling.

Can Purple Prickly Pear handle Phoenix summer heat?
Absolutely — it's native to the Sonoran Desert and handles temperatures well above 115°F. It also tolerates reflected heat from walls, concrete, and asphalt without any issues.

You May Also Like

Engleman's Prickly Pear — Arizona's classic green prickly pear, perfect for pairing with Purple Prickly Pear for a two-tone cactus display.
Golden Barrel Cactus — A round, golden-spined cactus that contrasts beautifully with the flat purple pads.
Mexican Fence Post — A tall columnar cactus that adds vertical height behind low-growing prickly pear.
Queen Victoria Agave — A compact, geometric agave with white markings — stunning accent next to purple pads.
Totem Pole Major — A smooth, spineless columnar cactus that pairs perfectly in modern desert gardens.

How Many Purple Prickly Pear Do I Need?

This is a low, spreading cactus (3 to 5 ft wide) that knits together for slope cover, mass plantings, and erosion control. Space plants about 3 ft on center to fill in within two seasons. Use the coverage table to plan a bed or slope:

Area to Cover Plants at 3 ft Centers
50 sq ft 5–6
100 sq ft 11–12
200 sq ft 22–24

For a single color accent in a gravel bed, one plant reads beautifully. Keep all plantings at least 3 ft back from walkways and play areas, since the pads carry glochids.

Purple Prickly Pear Season-by-Season in Phoenix

  • Spring (Feb–Apr): Showy yellow flowers with red-orange centers open along the pad edges, drawing native bees and butterflies. New pads flush as the weather warms. Strong second planting window.
  • Summer (May–Sep): Shrugs off temperatures well above 115°F and reflected heat on rainfall alone. Edible reddish-purple tunas ripen by late summer. Keep soil dry between any supplemental soaks.
  • Fall (Oct–Nov): Prime planting season. Warm soil and mild air give roots months to establish.
  • Winter (Dec–Jan): Cold and drought stress deepen the pads to vivid purple, the plant's signature look. Very cold hardy to about 15°F, so it sails through Valley winters with no protection.

At a Glance

✔ Arizona Native   ✔ Heat-Loving (Reflected-Heat Tolerant)   ✔ Drought-Tolerant   ✔ Pollinator-Friendly   ✔ Edible   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Low-Maintenance   ✔ Fire-Wise   ✔ Deer & Rabbit-Resistant   ✔ Cold-Hardy to 15°F

Plant It With

  • Engleman's Prickly Pear: Arizona's green native prickly pear for a two-tone pad display.
  • Mexican Fence Post: tall columns that add vertical height behind the low purple pads.
  • Totem Pole Major: a smooth sculptural column that pairs cleanly in a modern desert bed.
  • Desert Spoon: a silvery rosette that adds soft texture contrast to the flat pads.

Is Purple Prickly Pear Right for Your Yard?

It thrives in full sun and reflected heat in lean, fast-draining native soil, making it a no-irrigation choice for front yards, slopes, and native cactus gardens. Break through caliche so water never stands at the roots. It is not a fit right beside walkways, patios, or play areas, since the glochids catch skin and clothing: give it at least 3 ft of clearance.

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Ellzeena
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
Fascinating
It's impossible to put this book down. I've spent dozens of hours reading about the topics of Ufology, psi, cryptozoology, etc., enough to know that these are much, much more than : imagination, hoax, alien encounter(s). I've seen three UFOs myself and I know I wasn't imagining them but I don't really understand what they 'are'. I've had psi related experiences my entire lifetime. (I've never seen a bigfoot or a mothman, but boy would I like to lol). "The Trickster and the Paranormal", George Hansen, discusses in depth what these phenomena are (and are not); "Merging Dimensions" gives the reader as close to a first-hand look as possible without actually being there. I found that I did NOT have to suspend belief one bit since I actually have educated myself regarding the nature of these phenomena. Some of the photographs are hard to decipher but WOW that "portal" is amazing. It reminded me of a screen against a wall in a dark room, the sort projectors used to view slides (back in the good old days before digital photography). That part of the book written by Tom Dongo presented his conjectures (at the time the book was written, 16 years ago) regarding the nature of these phenomena. I don't agree with some of what he says and there are explanations for other of his statements. Since we now know that consciousness can effect result in measurement on the quantum level, we can postulate that the same effect is seen on other levels. On page 104, Mr. Dongo says "However, the incredible light retreated quickly away from the group when one of the six people became hysterical with fear. Fear drives these lights, or life forms, away." Fear disengages cognition, and it's contagious: if the man next to me becomes hysterical, I will react without control (it's a fight/flight mechanism, can't be reasoned away instantly) and, when that happens (when the other people's autonomic reactions kick in as a response to the hysterical man), cognition "flies out the window" and if our consciousness is in any way related to the phenomenon, without cognition it is rendered moot. One thing I do agree with is his following statement, "Reading and listening to everything of pertinence is the only way we can build a database for the internal guidance system to decide what is relevant and what isn't. Because of ignorance or a lack of information, some of the world's most entrenched beliefs and institutions were created thousands ofyears ago by a few who had in mind only power and profit. It's been proven that many of these beliefs have no verifiable historic record outside of the original document or decree itself. many of these dictums survive basically intact, even now." Accurate analysis of so many strongly held belief systems; people seem incapable (and unwilling) to let go of them. This is pure fear, of the unknown, and of stepping away from the herd mentality. I don't fool easily and I AM no fool. This hint at REALITY (rather than what we construe as such) is fascinating and Linda Bradshaw's advice regarding spiritual authority is spot on. I'm doing more research immediately; I'm going to see what's happened in the last sixteen years. I hope I don't find myself wearing chocolate shoes but, honestly, I'm so far out on a limb already that they might just provide me a much needed snack. :o/
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Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2010
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Filbert
Draper, US
★★★★★ 5
accurate story about Bradshaw ranch
Format: Paperback
Having listened to online accounts of this ranch, this is an absolutely valid account. Talks about bigfoot, the greys, some angel like positive beings that come out of the portal on this property. They were forced to sell to the government which now owns the ranch. Even though there is a gate people climb it and explore the property. Abandoned ranch house, abandoned western town used in the cowboy films from the 50s-60s. Supposed to be a research project which is just a cover for what the govt is really doing there. Linda Bradshaw has amazing stories which you should read. Photos are why I bought it to see the entities and the orbs etc. Fascinating. Worth the money.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2020
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bunnyrabbit4
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 4
Worth your Money for Linda's Part
Format: Kindle
This book has two parts. Linda's description comes across as sincere and is told in story form as if you were sitting across the table from her having coffee. She is obviously a real person who experienced some extraordinary things. Her co-author may be a great guy but this is one of many books he sells and he doesn't have anything to say that adds to Linda's retelling. Great half a book!
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Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2014
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Karen
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
Great book
Format: Paperback, Format: Paperback
I have only read one chapter however I can tell it’s going to be an amazing book!!
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Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2025
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Stefan Anderl
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 5
The message of the book is beautiful
Format: Hardcover
The book 'UFO...Contact from the Pleiades (45th Anniversary Edition): Volumes I & II' is characterized by an objective, scientific and factual recapitulation of the physical evidence of the Billy Meier contact case with the Plejaren. In addition to the physical evidence, numerous witness statements and a number of proven predictions are also cited. All these material findings, such as the beautiful photos and films of the beamships in Switzerland, the metal analyses, the audio recordings and the radiation from the landing sites, were examined scientifically by the four-person investigative team from Arizona (which is certainly just as beautiful as Switzerland) using the best scientists and technology of that time in the USA. The authenticity of the case has not been scientifically disproved. The cultural and historical connection of almost all peoples and indigenous peoples with the Plajades on the basis of traditions round off the Plajaren contact case in the book. In addition to all these material, factual, neutral and objective analyses, the author, who lived with her husband Lee Elders on Billy Meier's terrain totaling more than one year over a period of more than seven years, gives the reader every now and then the chance to catch a glimpse of the immaterial factors of the case. And these remain in the memory. For short moments, the beauty of the case's message, occurring at the terrain, twinkles: Such as the immortality of higher values and virtues, the connection of all living beings, which through peace, freedom and love etc. bring themselves together to higher spheres.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2024

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