Opuntia fragilis 'Potato'

This cool little prickly pear is very cold hardy and does resemble a potato in the sense,  A very sharp potato.  This is definitely one to have gloves on when working with it.  The spines are very sharp and have glochids (barbs) around them that will embed in your skin.  This only produces mild discomfort.  A great choice for containers, or the border edge.  The cylindrical pads and beautiful flowers add so much dimension to any garden.  In the winter the pads get rosy with the cold weather.

Mature Plant Size: 3" Tall, 3' Spread
Bloom Time: May/June
Light Exposure: Full Sun 
Soil Type/pH: Well-drained/6.0-7.0 
Hardiness Zones: 4-8

Fertilizer: A yearly dose of compost in late winter is normally sufficient, or you can use your favorite all-purpose fertilizer.  We don't recommend using liquid fertilizer with a high nitrogen analysis as they flop when overfed.
Plant Size: Unrooted pad; rooting instructions included.