Opuntia macrocentra aka Purple Prickly Pear

Opuntia macrocentra is a cactus known as purple prickly pear. It belongs to the cactus family, Cactaceae. Its native range runs from Arizona through New Mexico and western Texas into northern Mexico. It grows in dry scrub and desert grassland. Wild plants occur on sandy flats, rocky slopes, and along arroyos. They also grow in mountains, across several soil types. LLIFLE reports that the species is abundant across its range.

This branched plant can spread low or grow almost upright. It reaches about 2–4 feet [0.6–1.2 metres] tall. Its spread can reach about 10 feet [3 metres]. A clear trunk is rare. Chicago Botanic Garden describes its overall shape as round. Flat, fleshy stem pads form most of the plant's body. The pads range from round to oblong or egg-shaped. They may be wider than they are long. Their smooth surface ranges from dark green to blue-green.

Cold or drought can turn the pads deep purple. The colour often gathers near pad edges and areoles. In winter, it may cover the whole plant. Areoles are small sites that bear hairs, glochids, and spines. The glochids range from tan to reddish brown. Most long spines grow along the upper pad edge. They often point upward and have dark bases with pale tips. Young pads bear fewer, shorter spines. Some plants have few spines or none.

The flowers are yellow with a strong red centre. Some have a red stripe along the tepals. They measure about 2.4–2.8 inches [6–7 centimetres] across. Chicago Botanic Garden gives May to June as the bloom season. LLIFLE gives the broader span of spring through summer. Each flower usually lasts one day. It opens during the morning and closes at night. The juicy, egg-shaped fruits turn purple or pinkish red. They ripen from summer into autumn and are edible. Their pulp ranges from pale purple to clear. The seeds are flat and tan.

Chicago Botanic Garden lists full sun and dry soil for cultivation. It gives USDA hardiness zones 8–11. The garden lists this cactus as a specimen plant. Its purple pads, long spines, and bright flowers provide visual contrast. LLIFLE notes cactus moth as a possible threat to prickly pears. The evidence does not establish a species-specific pest problem or toxicity rating.