Nice plant Barrie. I don't know how you deal with these in your yard... 😆 😆 😆 I grew one from a single pad, in a year and a half it already gotten a tree trunk on it & I got nailed every time I mowed the lawn. Needless to say it is now in "Cactus heaven" ... 😆

Todd ... I've got a half acre and always plant these in an area well out of harms way. Hey and the deer or other critters won't touch 'em. 😆

Cheers, Barrie.

Mine was out of the way as well, but they reach out in all directions. Mine was over 5 ft away from anything. In the year & a half time, it grew out that far & more. I had to decide.... Palms & citrus or cactus. You know who won 😉

Absolutely! I have had to pare these back on occation to keep them in check. It is surprizing just how fast these cacti grow. I had a O. linguiformis that grew to six feet tall in 3 years. It fell over from the weight and so I removed it.

Cheers, Barrie.

Barrie very nice. I sure would like to see some of those for sale in the Okanagan at that size. I would have no problem buying a few at the price on the pot. Very good deal.

John

John, let me know if they grow for you? I can't seem to get that one to live through the winters here. 🙁 If you get one and it does good than maybe I could buy/trade something for a pad off it? 🙂

Monrovia rates this one as zone 8 minimum.

"Growth Rate
Moderate Growing

Water Requirements
Once established needs only occasional water.
Sun Exposure
Full sun"

Cheers, Barrie.

Arron I think I would be keeping it in a pot. I might try some rooted pads of the mom later to see what cold hardiness they have. Barrie the zone 8 designation would probably explain why we don`t see them here . Next year I will bring some in from California.

John

Hi all,

Can I ask how this beauty looks like now? According to my Hardy Succulents handbook, this Opuntia violacea var. santa-rita should be hardy to zone 6, with pads turning purplish in the winter... So exotic!!!!
Rob

Rob ... sorry to report it's as dead as a door nail. Dry all winter but looked like it was in trouble after the first frost or two.
There's plenty of hardy cacti so I'm not too put out by losing this one.

Cheers, Barrie.

Hi Barrie,

Ouchies, I am so sorry to hear the news. I think I am still tempted to try it out..... What the heck.
Rob

Rob et al. I think Beaver Creek greenhouses is carrying a hardy form of this (O. macrocentra v. Santa-Rita), I've ordered it and will probably take a cutting and pot it to be be sure that I still have it in the spring! It is certainly a beautiful plant...

Who knows, maybe this will be the year that I can finally make my 'Big-Non-Hardy' Opuntia x Hardy Opuntia crosses!

O. macrocentra might work for you Paul, I have it and it is much more hardy then Santa-Rita.

I think these Opuntias(tree/bush form)only survive cold if they are kept bone dry all summer.
Mine did good the first year-
but once it's roots got more extensive it was just to efficient holding water,cold weakened it's joints and the weight of
the water inside caused it to topple-rot took over from there-
They sure do grow fast though !