Purple Prickly Pear 'Opuntia macrocentra'

The purple prickly pear cactus, also known as Opuntia macrocentra, which belongs to the Prickly pear family. Native to the Sonoran desert and New Mexico, the purple prickly pear is known for its distinctive appearance and vibrant purple pad, which give it its common name. This purple cactus is also referred to as a black spine prickly pear or a long spine prickly pear because of its long, dark spines that protrude from the top of the pad.  The pads of the purple prickly pear are flat and oval-shaped, with a slightly wavy edge. When it's cold outside or when there is a drought, these pads can turn purple or magenta. When it gets warmer, they return to their original color of blue-green. They can grow up to 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide and are covered in clusters of spines, which are actually modified leaves called glochids. This purple cactus plant spreads sideways more than upwards and does not develop a central trunk.  The flowers of the purple prickly pear are one of the most eye-ca