Purple Prickly Pear Cactus is a rare, compact cactus known for its vibrant, seasonal color shifts. It has flat, paddle-shaped pads that vary in color from soft blue and green to shades of purple, with the most vibrant purple hues appearing during cooler months or under direct sun exposure. The surface of the pads is adorned with scattered clusters of tiny, sharp spines, giving it a textured look. These spines can be yellow, brown, or light tan. The pads sometimes feature slightly raised bumps where the spines emerge. In spring, this plant produces bright yellow flowers that provide a striking contrast to the colorful pads.
This dwarf cactus usually reaches about 1 to 2 feet in height and has a clumping growth habit, making it perfect for both garden beds and container displays. Native to the dry areas of the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico, it thrives in rocky, well-draining soil under full sun.
This cactus’ slow growth and eye-catching appearance make it a highly sought-after specimen for plant collectors. Its heat tolerance, drought resistance, and moderate frost hardiness make it ideal for low-maintenance gardening and indoor cultivation. As this plant is small in size and requires minimal care, it is perfect for indoor environments, where it can be showcased on a sunny windowsill or in a bright room.
All of the plants may be shipped bare root.
This cactus thrives in full sun to light shade, requiring at least 6-8 hours of light daily for optimal growth. For vibrant coloring, full sun and bright light is recommended.
Use well-draining cactus or succulent soil. Fertilization is minimal—apply a balanced, diluted fertilizer during the growing season, once or twice a year.
Water sparingly and only when the soil is completely dry. Overwatering can lead to root rot; aim for deep watering sessions once every few weeks during the growing season and reduce significantly in winter.
This cactus is very versatile and can thrive in most indoor environments. It is frost-hardy up to 10° F but should be protected from prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures.
While not highly toxic, the spines and glochids can cause irritation if touched or ingested by humans and pets. It's advisable to keep the plant out of reach of children and animals and handle it carefully to avoid skin irritation.
USDA hardiness zones 6 to 10
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* Minimalist Pot Options: White/ Oatmeal/ Gray colors are randomly picked
* Grower pot option is plastic pot, the color of the plastic pot will be random (brown, black, white or green)
* We use 3.5 inch wide clay pots for 4" succulent plant + clay pot option.
Your plant will be carefully wrapped in a sturdy box. Most of the succulents will be shipped bare-root to ensure their safety. If you want to receive the plastic pot & soil, please leave a note in your order. When opening your package, some soil may be loose in the box. Plant orders are shipped within 3-5 days depending on the availability of the plant. We ship our plants Monday through Friday, all twelve months of the year! If you need your order urgently, please message us so we can upgrade your shipping (additional cost applied). We do not ship outside of the continental United States.
We ship all year round, if your area is cold (under 40 degree), please consider purchasing a Heat Pack to add to your order.
Our packaging materials are: - 100% recyclable and biodegradable cardboard boxes. - 100% biodegradable packing peanuts made from natural and non-toxic sources.
Here is our blog about the shipping process and packaging: https://succulentsbox.com/pages/shipping-return-policy
*** The size options are represtentative of pots that the plants come in. Sometimes customer may receive multiple plants instead of a large one to make up size.
*** All of our packages are sterilized before leaving the door.
We only ship out beautiful, healthy plants! Please track your package and open it immediately upon
arrival. If you receive your package and are not satisfied, please message us immediately. Fragile plants such as
bearpaw, baby toe, etc. may break or loose a few of their leaves during transport. Please contact us for
replacements if your plants are severely damaged. We'll try our best to accommodate you.
Plants may be slightly larger or smaller than the pot they are grown in, depending on availability or time of year.
Green Thumb Guarantee
Worried about plant care? We’ve got you covered! If your plant care goes haywire within 6 months of your order, you can claim a $15 gift card for your plant. How it works:
For each plant, you can receive a gift card.
The more plants you order, the more you can claim, up to a maximum of $50 gift card per order.
One-time claim per order.
For subscriptions, you can claim once per subscription.
Provide porous soil with adequate drainage, pots with drainage hole are recommended. Bright, filtered
light and ample airflow. Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch. Never let your succulents sit in water. Do
NOT water on the leaves. If you water from beneath by letting the plant sit in a saucer of water, make sure to pour
off any excess water after a few minutes.
The hotter it is outside, the faster your soil will dry out, so you’ll need to water more often if you live in a hot
area. Water with caution in winter, as the plant can lose its roots if the soil stays cold and wet for extended
periods; protect from frost to prevent scarring.
This cactus’ slow growth and eye-catching appearance make it a highly sought-after specimen for plant collectors. Its heat tolerance, drought resistance, and moderate frost hardiness make it ideal for low-maintenance gardening and indoor cultivation. As this plant is small in size and requires minimal care, it is perfect for indoor environments, where it can be showcased on a sunny windowsill or in a bright room.
This cactus thrives in full sun to light shade, requiring at least 6-8 hours of light daily for optimal growth. For vibrant coloring, full sun and bright light is recommended. 
Water sparingly and only when the soil is completely dry. Overwatering can lead to root rot; aim for deep watering sessions once every few weeks during the growing season and reduce significantly in winter.
This cactus is very versatile and can thrive in most indoor environments. It is frost-hardy up to 10° F but should be protected from prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures. 
While not highly toxic, the spines and glochids can cause irritation if touched or ingested by humans and pets. It's advisable to keep the plant out of reach of children and animals and handle it carefully to avoid skin irritation.