This variety of the fragile prickly pear from the western Colorado plateau tends to be almost entirely nekkid, not even having the tiny glochids we’ve come to enjoy. A favorite of rock and trough gardeners, these have round pads, to under 2″, that clump to at least 3 ft wide but only a few inches in height, turning purplish in winter and producing occasional lemon-yellow flowers in mid spring. This clone shared with us by Western Colorado’s Don Campbell. Frost hardy to -30F, USDA Zone 4, possibly lower.

BRITTLE PRICKLY PEAR

Cactaceae