Opuntia macrocentra populations of "Opuntia macrocentra" are found in Arizona, New Mexico, Southwestern Texas, and Northwestern Mexico. This cacti is a slow growing perennial that inhabits a wide range of soil substrates and habitat types. It can be found below the elevation of 5000 ft in areas of sandy desert flats, rocky hills, or valley grasslands. "Opuntia macrocentra" is an upright spreading shrub, usually growing from tall. Individuals occasionally reach in height. The stem is blue-gray, blue-green, or purplish in color. The purple pad color is the most intense at the edges of the pad or around the areoles. The purple color
Opuntia dulcis common in trans-Pecos Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. It has been observed in the mountains of southern Nevada.. Opuntia dulcis Opuntia dulcis has been described as a variety of, and is confused with, "O. phaeacantha". However, "O. dulcis" is a larger plant with ascending branches, to 2 ft (exceptionally 4 ft). While it is a larger plant, immature specimens of O. dulcis may overlap in size with O. phaeacantha. "Opuntia dulcis" resembles "O. engelmannii" in some ways but does not become as erect or large as that species. Also, the spines of "O. dulcis" are finer than those of "O.