Opuntia

Perennial cacti with paddle like flattened branches

Height: In this area not more than 2ft

Hardiness: In sharply drained soil and with some protection over winter opuntia have been outside in my garden now for 2 years and appear to be growing well.

Propagation: Sow seeds in spring in a propagator 70F.

Notes: Prickly pears in your garden how exotic can you get. Touch one without protection and the novelty soon wears off, it's not the main spines but the cluster of small hair like bristles around base of each spine. I use plastic fish tanks turned upside down to cover them during the winter. More quirky than pretty.