Opuntias grow with water, right temperatures, right soil and sufficent attention.
They show a remarkable abilty to come back from cold, scorching heat or neglect. But if you treat them well, they will surprise you with growth, flowers and some more growth.

Opuntias grow with water, right temperatures, right soil and sufficent attention.
They show a remarkable abilty to come back from cold, scorching heat or neglect. But if you treat them well, they will surprise you with growth, flowers and some more growth.

Opuntia fragilis hybrid Devil's Tower (54)

This hybrid is low growing, and produces very nice, dark pink flowers.

Opuntia fragilis "Wizzard" (100)

This hybrid comes from Michael Kießling.
Flowers fade from yellow to orange, but various from year to year.

Opuntia fragilis "Füssen" (351)

This German hybrid has lovely pink flowers.
Flowers readily, and stays low, but will spread.

Opuntia fragilis "Freiburg" (92)

This German hybrid has light yellow flowers and very few spines.
Flowers readily, and stays low, but will spread.

Opuntia fragilis "x Colombiana" (83)

This plant is suppose to come from Keremeos British Colombia in Canada. But if you look at the flower colour, it looks very much like the fragilis "Fohr" with its purple flower and spiney pads.
Flowers sparingly, stays low and will spread.

Opuntia fragilis "x Colombiana" (72)

This plant comes from Keremeos British Colombia in Canada. Flowers open yellow, but fade into a very delicate yellow-pink. Quite large flowers also, compared to the joints.
Flowers well, stays low and will spread.

Opuntia fragilis "Friedrichshaven" (93)

I don't know if this plant is a true fragilis or a hybrid. The slighlty flattened pads seems to indicate it is a hybrid, but it could be true.
This plant is a German selection and flowers very readily with nice yellow flowers with a red throat.
Plants stay low and will spread.

Opuntia hybrid "Pony" (247)

This plant comes from Jean Wieprecht in Quebec. This is most likely a hybrid between a basilaris and a fragilis, given the small size of the plant and the pads. Despite being an Opuntia, it's room requirements are modest.
This plant has a nice pink flower and is fully hardy, although I have not tested it outside.

Opuntia hybrid "Apricot Glory" (357)

This plant starts with a yellow flower, with changes into a light apricot with age.
Smaller pads with thin spines. Should be winterhardy.

Opuntia fragilis x polyacantha (E1-12) (172)

This plant has smallish pads with some spines. Flowers are nice ruffled pink..

Opuntia hybrid "Apricot Beauty" (229)

This plant has a dark pink flower (instead of an apricot coloured one). A very nice coloured flower, stays reasonable compact.
Smaller pads with thin spines. Again, should be winterhardy, but I have not tested it.

Opuntia fragilis x polyacantha "Smithwick" (113)

This plant is a natural hybrid, found by Claude Barr near the city of Smithwick, South Dakota.
Smal pads with spines, clump forming. Is winterhardy.

Opuntia fragilis "x Colombiana" (111)

This plant comes from Yakim River in Washington, USA. Looks similar to other x Colombiana's, but flowers sparingly. Stays low and will spread.

Opuntia fragilis hybrid Wyoming (131)

This plant comes Wyoming. Looking at the pads and the way the flower fades from yellow to soft pink, this is a hybrid with probably polyacantha.

Opuntia fragilis denudata (265)

This plant has light yellow flowers which gets more deeper yellow at the base. Fewer spines than true fragilis, fatter also with pads a bit bigger. Perhaps a hybrid with aurea.

Opuntia fragilis "Georg Sydow" (269)

This plant has pink flowers on smallish joints with reddish glochids. Not a lot of spines. American hybrid.

Opuntia fragilis "Claude Arno" (266)

This plant has darker pink flowers on smallish joints with a uite some spines. American hybrid. Flowers for me better than "Georg Sydow

Opuntia fragilis x-colombiana

This plant has simple yellow on bigger joints with long white spines. Flowers do not fade into another colour.

Opuntia fragilis x-colombiana "Litle Stars" (369)

This plant has bright yellow flowers that fade into peach-orange. Short, dark spines on bigger joints.

Opuntia fragilis x aurea "Red Gem" (310)

This plant has few spines and lovely pink flowers. Pads are small, the plants stay relatively small.

Opuntia fragilis var denudata BMJ 228C (272)

This plant has few spines and lovely light pink flowers. Pads are small, the plants stay relatively small. Natural hybrid from SW Utah

Opuntia fragilis "x Colombiana " (228)

This plant comes from Owyhee county in Idaho. Stays low and will spread. Flowers are yellow, and fade into apricot.

Opuntia fragilis "Apricot Beauty" (229)

This plant is a compact plant with pink flowers (not very apricot like ;-)). Very free flowering. Modest in space requirements (for an Opuntia).

Opuntia fragilis "Red Apricot" (30)

This plant is a compact plant with red apricot flowers. Very free flowering. Spiny. Will spread eventually.

Opuntia fragilis x-colombiana Lincoln River, Washington(112)

This plant has simple yellow flowers on bigger joints with long white spines. Flowers slightly fade.

Opuntia fragilis x-colombiana Wenatchee, Washington(122)

This plant has simple yellow flowers on bigger joints with shorter yellow spines. Flowers slightly fade.

Opuntia fragilis "Purple Heart"(26)

Spiny pads with wide open flowers. A bit bigger than most fragilis hybrids, but still a relatively small plant.

Plants are mostly small, range from yellow via pink or orange to red. They grow well, and usually flower better than true fragilis (although there are exceptions). Plants are both man made and natural occuring hybrids.