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Baby Rita Prickly Pear
Opuntia x basilaris 'Baby Rita'
Pronunciation: op-UN-shee-a
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.
LIGHT: Full sun
WATER: Let soil dry completely between waterings.
SIZE: Slow growing; forms clumps 8 in. tall, 24 in. wide.
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| Bloom Time | Spring |
|---|---|
| Deciduous/Evergreen | Evergreen |
| Special Features | Dramatic Foliage Color, Easy Care, Waterwise, Non-toxic to Cats and Dogs, Compact Form |
| Problems/Solutions | Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Tolerates Urban Pollution |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Flower Attributes | Showy Flowers |
| Landscape Use | Barrier, Container, Houseplant |
| Flower Color | Pink |
| Companion Plants | Agave (Agave); Sedum (Sedum); Rock Rose (Cistus); Aloe (Aloe); Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum); Red Yucca (Hesperaloe) |
| Care Instructions | 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. |
| 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. |
Details
| Bloom Time | Spring |
|---|---|
| Deciduous/Evergreen | Evergreen |
| Special Features | Dramatic Foliage Color, Easy Care, Waterwise, Non-toxic to Cats and Dogs, Compact Form |
| Problems/Solutions | Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Tolerates Urban Pollution |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Flower Attributes | Showy Flowers |
Style
| Landscape Use | Barrier, Container, Houseplant |
|---|---|
| Flower Color | Pink |
| Companion Plants | Agave (Agave); Sedum (Sedum); Rock Rose (Cistus); Aloe (Aloe); Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum); Red Yucca (Hesperaloe) |
Care
| Care Instructions | 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. |
|---|
History
| 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. |
|---|
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Retailers Near You
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About Us
We have been pioneers and craftsmen in the art of growing plants for nearly
100 years. Since our founding in Southern California by Harry E. Rosedale, Sr.
in 1926, we have been absolutely dedicated and obsessed with quality.
We have been pioneers and craftsmen in the art of growing plants for nearly 100 years. Since our founding in Southern California by Harry E. Rosedale, Sr. in 1926, we have been absolutely dedicated and obsessed with quality.