Baby Rita Cactus – Santa Rita Purple Prickly Pear Opuntia Hybrid, Rare Dwarf Cactus, Colorful Cold Hardy Live Plant

🌱 Product Overview

The ‘Baby Rita’ Prickly Pear is a compact and vibrant hybrid of the Santa Rita cactus, prized for its colorful pads that flush deep purple in cool weather or drought. Perfect for small spaces, containers, or rock gardens, this rare dwarf variety offers bold desert beauty with minimal maintenance.

🍃 Key Features

• Color Shifting: Blue-green pads turn vivid purple in colder temps or with stress

• Compact Form: Stays small and tidy—typically reaching 1–2 ft tall and wide

• Flowers: Cheerful yellow blooms in spring contrast beautifully with purple pads

• Cold Hardy: Withstands frost and snow with grace—ideal for zone-pushing gardeners

• Wildlife Appeal: Nectar-rich flowers attract bees and pollinators

🌵 Why Buy from DesertNoir

• Arizona-grown for desert durability—our plants are sun-tough and time-tested

• Shipped bare root for eco-conscious transit and easier repotting

• Trusted Star Seller service with fast shipping and careful packaging

• Rare variety not typically available in local nurseries

🌿 Care & Growing Tips

• Hardiness Zone: USDA Zone 5–10 (cold hardy to –10°F with excellent drainage)

• Light: Full sun to light shade; more sun = deeper pad color

• Water: Water deeply but infrequently—every 2–3 weeks in warm months

• Soil: Well-draining cactus mix or sandy native soil

• Spacing: Great for small spaces or containers—also thrives in rock gardens

• Winter Color: Turns vibrant purple with colder temps or dry spells

📦 Shipping & Guarantee

• Ships bare root every Wednesday for orders placed by the prior Sunday

• Orders process in 3–7 business days

• Every plant is unique—photos represent typical quality and size

• Report any issues within 48 hours of delivery for a resolution

• International buyers must handle customs/duties

✨ Why It Rocks

The ‘Baby Rita’ Prickly Pear brings year-round interest in a pint-sized package—flushing purple in winter, blooming bright in spring, and thriving through drought or cold. It’s a standout addition to any cactus lover’s collection or xeriscape display.

~ Pad Clipping (May or may not come connected)

The plant may be green or gray or purple. The purple color comes and goes based on season and growing conditions.

ADD ROOT POWDER or SUPER ROOT SAUCE! Order in the shop.

Don't forget your Soil! Order in the shop.

______PLEASE BE AWARE OF YOUR WEATHER BEFORE ORDERING___

*Not responsible for lost or damaged packages due to shipping companies handling.
We will send you info to file a claim.