From Brazil, this is one of the primitive cacti that has shrubby stems and rather simple flowers. It is named for its dark green leaves with a purplish hue, and it can be tree like to 12-15 feet tall. In areas with minimal frost, it can be a landscape plant. Subspecies violacea, as the name indicates, has violet bracts and pink-purple flowers. These plants are rooted cuttings in 4-inch pots.