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Beaverita

Opuntia basilaris hybrid

Out of stock

1 Gallon

Plant Care

Native region:

Sonoran Native

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

Mature size:

Growth rate:

Full Sun

2'x3'

Fast

Flower color:

Flower season:

Pruning:

Pink

Spring

None

Wildlife

Monarchs:

Nectar pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Yes

Rabbit resistant:

Also known as Santa Rita × Beavertail Hybrid

This striking hybrid cactus is one of the most beautifully colored cold-hardy prickly pears available. A natural cross between Opuntia santa-rita and Opuntia basilaris, Beaverita combines the best traits of both parents into a compact, eye-catching plant. It forms a low mound about 2 to 2½ feet tall and a few feet wide, with smooth, beavertail-shaped pads that take on a rich purple flush, especially pronounced in winter and cooler weather.

The real show arrives in late spring, when brilliant hot pink flowers bloom, creating a dramatic contrast with the purple pads. The flowers are large, ruffled, and vibrant—just what I love in my cacti!

Beaverita thrives in full sun and absolutely demands excellent drainage. It's one of those plants that doesn’t want to be fussed over. Once established, it's very drought tolerant and highly adaptable to desert conditions, but also hardy to the low 20s, making it a great choice for high desert and inland gardens as well. Like many Opuntias, it’s not only ornamental but also offers habitat value—pollinators visit the flowers, and the pads can provide shelter for small wildlife.

Use this plant where you want reliable, low-water color and texture—along walkways, in containers, or mixed in with other desert shrubs and perennials. It’s also a standout in rock gardens and desert-themed plantings. Just keep it out of soggy spots and away from rabbits if you have them around—this is not a rabbit-resistant cactus.

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on my research from reliable sources, observations I have made of plants growing in my, and other gardens I have visited, and observations of the plants in their native habitats. I would appreciate your feedback and experience to help me educate others!

Cacti: In my experience, cacti are much happier in the filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Colors are more vibrant and they bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you pay attention to how our native barrel and beavertail opuntia grow in the wild, it is frequently tucked in the rocks under creosote or another shrub.

Light Requirements: I have found that in our desert (Sonoran/Colorado) “full sun” plants can take and appreciate the late afternoon filtered sun, especially in the hot summer months.