This is an absolutely delightful and awesome plant. A true dwarf opuntia with a bashful blushing purple look for most of the year if give...Read Moren sufficient sun. I cannot praise this plant highly enough. It did take mine a few years to overcome some scaly bug problems, but the plant never has any pests anymore. (I bought it in 2011.) As a fan of dwarf plants, an obvious pet peeve of mine is ones that turn out to actually be not-so-dwarf, but this one truly is unable to get big. Another bonus is that its spines (which are not very numerous) tend to be of the large, sturdy variety and not of the dreaded teeny-tiny glochid variety.
Upon repotting mine today, I was pleased to notice the base has become quite thick and impressive. For a dwarf, this thing is powerfully built, or at least becomes powerfully-built over time, and the roots can become quite long.
I bought mine from a well-known succulent company whose name begins with "A" and whose plants are sold at big box stores. It is undoubtedly in my top ten list of essential patio succulents / cacti. It really rewards the patient grower.
I have some baby ritas that I found discounted at Southern States. I kept them in the greenhouse over winter. I found that they have a te...Read Morendency to rot if over watered, even when in the greenhouse. I planted them in my cactus bed which is surrounded with rock. The rocks should help protect them in the event of a freeze. I am excited to see how they survive the winter. I will keep you updated.
I have grown it in a pot on an exposed elevated gangway during a nasty cold winter for our Z8b location.It was very damp during our wors...Read Moret early freeze. My small rooted cuttings goes into a raised bed on the ground today. I have confidence. If it can do it in a pot, it can do it in the ground. I do heavily amend my soil so it is above grade in fast draining gritty soil.
Found this at the local Home Depot . Was shocked they had it and it was 50 percent off so of course I snatched it up. I am going to put i...Read Moret in a small planter and see how it does . Glad to have found it .
San Leandro, CA (Zone 9b) | January 2012 | neutral
This is a hybrid developed by. Daylily Hill Nursery in Bonsall, California. They call it Opuntia basilaris hyb. 'Baby Rita"
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Their wrote up on it on their website is:
"This is our very own hybrid in which we captured the beauty and brilliance of the intensely carmen colored flowers of the beavertail cactus in a small padded, purple skinned prickly pear. Whereas the true beavertail cannot be successfully grown in cooler coastal areas, this little wonder thrives from the coast to the heart of the inland deserts, and even into high altitude mountain areas where hardiness to 0 degrees is required! Never grows taller than about 8" and spreads along the ground in a loose mound to 2 feet wide. Covered with brilliant flowers in the spring, and the overall purple color of the plant lasts through all seasons, becoming very intense in winter. Loves full sun and is water-wise."
This is an absolutely delightful and awesome plant. A true dwarf opuntia with a bashful blushing purple look for most of the year if give...Read More
I have some baby ritas that I found discounted at Southern States. I kept them in the greenhouse over winter. I found that they have a te...Read More
I have grown it in a pot on an exposed elevated gangway during a nasty cold winter for our Z8b location.It was very damp during our wors...Read More
Found this at the local Home Depot . Was shocked they had it and it was 50 percent off so of course I snatched it up. I am going to put i...Read More
This is a hybrid developed by. Daylily Hill Nursery in Bonsall, California. They call it Opuntia basilaris hyb. 'Baby Rita"
...Read More