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Beaverita

Opuntia basilaris hybrid

true

1 gallon; 5 gallon

Beaverita

In stock

2'x3'

Sizes:

Opuntia × Beaverita – Santa Rita × Beavertail Hybrid
Also known as Santa Rita × Beavertail Hybrid

This striking 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 Opuntia, 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.

Wildlife Value
Beaverita supports a variety of pollinators and desert wildlife. The large, hot pink blooms provide nectar and pollen for native bees, butterflies, and occasional hummingbirds. Once pollinated, the plant produces fleshy fruit that serves as food for birds and small mammals, while the dense pads offer shelter and nesting sites.

Host Plant: Native cactus-feeding insects (including moth and beetle species)

Nectar Source: Native bees, generalist pollinators, and hummingbirds (Anna’s Calypte anna and Costa’s Calypte costae)

Bird Resources: Fruit/Berries; Nectar; Seeds; Shelter; Nesting Sites

Bird Species: Anna’s (Calypte anna), Costa’s (Calypte costae), Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus), Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura), Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata), Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)

Bees: Attracts a range of native bees, including cactus specialists (Diadasia rinconis)

Other Wildlife: Pads can provide cover for small reptiles and mammals

Plant Care

Native region:

Sonoran Native

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

Full Sun

Mature size:

2'x3'

Growth rate:

Fast

Flower color:

Pink

Flower season:

Spring

Pruning:

None

Cold Hardiness:

0 Degrees

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Yes

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Larval host:

Bees:

Yes

Bats:

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Yes

Nest materials:

Yes

Rabbit-resistant:

Tortoises:

Yes

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.