Could someone explain if the cactus santa rita would be purple enough south of Birmingham AL zone 8a? it gets very hot and dry in summer, and some snow in winter. South border of the transition zone. I have a great spot where a green one grew so large people would steal the paddles and it broke down into a mess eventually so I pulled it out. It sounds as if a very alkaline soil is necessary, so I would have the opposite and would need a yard sized vessel to control pH
