Sometimes know as Purple Beaver Tail Cactus, Opuntia Santa Rita is a brilliantly colored desert plant often used in Xeriscape gardens.  It takes little to no supplimental water once established and extremely low maintenance.  Remove pads that are diseased or damaged during the Summer months.  This plant will grow to about 5 feet tall by about 7 feet wide.  Opuntia is a vibrant addition to the Southwestern landscape.  Plant in full sun and provide well-drained soil.  The Prickly Pear as a great plant for maintaining native wildlife habitats.  Most commonly found on sunny hillsides in Arizona, Texas, and mid-western states.  Blooms appear in Spring through Summer and give way to the famous Prickly Pear fruit which can be made in jam.  Opuntia grows very slow but provides quite an exquisite show in the landscape.   USDA Zones 7-10.