(Hardy?) Purple opuntia
- Yorkshire Kris
- Posts: 10163
- Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:59 am
- Location: Rural South Wakefield, Yorkshire Lat 53.64 Long-1.54
- Yorkshire Kris
- Posts: 10163
- Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:59 am
- Location: Rural South Wakefield, Yorkshire Lat 53.64 Long-1.54
Re: (Hardy?) Purple opuntia
It's called Opuntia Santa rita (purple?)
Re: (Hardy?) Purple opuntia
I think it's a form of Opuntia violacea of which I have a couple Kris. I could chop a bit off for you but best done after winter. One of my plants does go quite purple in winter but it's usually an equally striking glaucous blue. It's as cold hardy as you like but would probably need some kind of rain shelter. There are more wet tolerant opuntias and quite a few go a purple colour in winter.
I've been sent a dozen or so pieces of different outdoor growing opuntias by a very nice chap in the Doncaster/Sheffield area which I'm growing on a bit before I plant out next year.
I've been sent a dozen or so pieces of different outdoor growing opuntias by a very nice chap in the Doncaster/Sheffield area which I'm growing on a bit before I plant out next year.
Re: (Hardy?) Purple opuntia
I think the pic has gone but there's another:
http://www.opuntiads.com/images/opuntia ... a-dbg1.jpg
http://www.opuntiads.com/images/opuntia ... a-dbg1.jpg
- Las Palmas Norte
- Posts: 1892
- Joined: Sun Oct 28, 2007 7:17 pm
- Location: Lantzville, British Columbia (Vancouver Island)
Re: (Hardy?) Purple opuntia
The one I bought labeled as 'Santa Rita' died in very light frost.
Cheers, Barrie.
Cheers, Barrie.
- Yorkshire Kris
- Posts: 10163
- Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:59 am
- Location: Rural South Wakefield, Yorkshire Lat 53.64 Long-1.54
Re: (Hardy?) Purple opuntia
JoelR wrote:I think it's a form of Opuntia violacea of which I have a couple Kris. I could chop a bit off for you but best done after winter. One of my plants does go quite purple in winter but it's usually an equally striking glaucous blue. It's as cold hardy as you like but would probably need some kind of rain shelter. There are more wet tolerant opuntias and quite a few go a purple colour in winter.
I've been sent a dozen or so pieces of different outdoor growing opuntias by a very nice chap in the Doncaster/Sheffield area which I'm growing on a bit before I plant out next year.
I might have to pop round next Spring Joel
Re: (Hardy?) Purple opuntia
Yorkshire Kris wrote:JoelR wrote:I think it's a form of Opuntia violacea of which I have a couple Kris. I could chop a bit off for you but best done after winter. One of my plants does go quite purple in winter but it's usually an equally striking glaucous blue. It's as cold hardy as you like but would probably need some kind of rain shelter. There are more wet tolerant opuntias and quite a few go a purple colour in winter.
I've been sent a dozen or so pieces of different outdoor growing opuntias by a very nice chap in the Doncaster/Sheffield area which I'm growing on a bit before I plant out next year.
I might have to pop round next Spring Joel
You're very welcome Kris.
- Dave Brown
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Re: (Hardy?) Purple opuntia
I have a purple one as well that I thought was Santa Rita, and was supposed to be hardy to -18C, but took a huge hit left out in winter 2009/10 with -5.6C. I dug it out and has taken 2 years to recover in the Polytunnel.Las Palmas Norte wrote:The one I bought labeled as 'Santa Rita' died in very light frost.
Cheers, Barrie.
Best regards
Dave
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
Dave
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
Re: (Hardy?) Purple opuntia
Just found a nice Opuntia violacea seedling pic. No purple pads as not yet been exposed to cold. This particular plant is unusually fast growing with an upright habit. Grown a lot bigger since this pic was taken.
- Yorkshire Kris
- Posts: 10163
- Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:59 am
- Location: Rural South Wakefield, Yorkshire Lat 53.64 Long-1.54
Re: (Hardy?) Purple opuntia
JoelR wrote:Just found a nice Opuntia violacea seedling pic. No purple pads as not yet been exposed to cold. This particular plant is unusually fast growing with an upright habit. Grown a lot bigger since this pic was taken.
Looks very good Joel.