Baby Rita full-sun Winter (Dec–Jan): Holds its evergreen

Winter (Dec–Jan): Holds its evergreen waxy clumps and shrugs off Valley frost

layered look popular in Scottsdale

Monk’s Hood is an exceptional container cactus

Its dense clusters of deep burgundy-to-magenta trumpets create a vivid statement that stands out even against the beige backdrop of desert architecture

The white flower clusters appear on bare branches before leaf-out

Baby Rita full-sun Winter (Dec–Jan): Holds its evergreenThe Perfect Compact Purple Prickly Pear for Small Phoenix Gardens Baby Rita Prickly Pear (Opuntia basilaris 'Baby Rita') is the ultimate small space desert cactus. This compact cultivar stays under 2 feet tall and wide, making it ideal for containers, rock gardens, and tight planting beds where standard prickly pears would overwhelm the space. What sets Baby Rita apart is its stunning purple tinged pads that deepen in color during cooler months,