4” Opuntia macrocentra Sapphire Wave, Purple prickly pear

Opuntia macrocentra Sapphire Wave

Description: The Purple Prickly Pear (Opuntia macrocentra) is a ground-hugging branched shrub up to 60-120 cm tall, up to 3 m wide. The red-tinged succulent pads and very long spines (macrocentra means long spine) easily distinguish it from the many other species of prickly pear. The purple tinge is greatest around the areoles and on the edges, although the entire plant may be purple in winter.
The purple tinge is due to betalain pigment (presumably one particular compound, betacyanin) most evident when the plants are stressed by cold or drought.
Spines: Most commonly 1-4, produced in areoles only on the upper margin of the pad, usually 3 to 7 cm long
Flowers: 5-10 cm long, 6-7 cm in diameter, yellow with brilliant red throat often not opening fully, and in some plants the red pigment extends like a "mid-stripe" on the tepals (rare in Opuntia
Blooming season: Spring-summer, flowers usually last only one day, opens in the middle of the morning and close at night.
Fruits: Ovoid, succulent and juicy at maturity with few areoles, 2,5-4 cm long, purple to pinkish red, edible maturing in summer-autumn. Each fruit has between 12-16 areoles. The umbilicus is deeply concave and the inner pulp and juices are light purple to clear in colour.

Cultivation and Propagation: This is a a much decorative frost hardy cactus. It is a summer grower species that offers no cultivation difficulties. Its purple pads provide a striking accent for an otherwise dormant cactus garden.
Water: In summer, during the vegetative period, it must be regularly watered, but allowing the substratum to completely dry up before irrigating again (but do not overwater ); in winter, it's to be kept dry. Preferable not to water on overcast days, humid days or cold winter days.
Hardiness: It is a quite frost resistant cactus, hardy to -7° C (- 12° C or less if very dry). However in cultivation it is better not to expose it to temperatures lower than -0° C, even if in an aerated and protected location, in order to avoid the formation of anti-aesthetic spots on the epidermis. USDA Zone 6-10. It can handle extremely high temperatures in summer.
Exposure: Outside full sun or afternoon shade, inside needs bright light, and some direct sun.

You will receive a plant like the one shown.
Your plant will ship semi-bare root (some soil/no pot) However, depending on the plant and on the condition of the soil (if it’s not dry) we might have to wrap the plant in tissue paper in packaging tailored to the plant and send along the empty pot. We do this in order to ensure the safest possible delivery to you.

Your plant might not display the same colors as those pictured. Please allow for some variance amongst live plants. Please also note that the plant will be traveling in a dark box, so it might lose some brightness.
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Succulent Care

Be sure to use a well-drained soil, such as cactus mix. They need bright light, but be cautious with full sun in hotter climates. Always transition plants slowly into sun, morning sun or partial sun to start, moving into more in 6-8 days, depending on your unique climate.

Succulents must dry out between waterings, but water fully, to the point the water runs out the bottom of the pot. Do not allow water to sit if you use a saucer beneath the plant pot. Don't water again until soil is completely dry. Watch closely to learn best practices, given your climate and growing conditions.

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