Opuntia aurea

Opuntia aurea is a compact prickly pear from the Arizona strip of Arizona and adjacent Utah. This plant commonly only reaches 20" across and 12" tall.  It is likely a decendant of Oputia polycantha. These plants are Hexaploid and have bright yellow flowers. The original pad was collected just south of Coral Pink Sand dunes and is roughly the type locality for this species. Plants get their name for Aurea meaning gold or in this case bright yellow flowers. Plants have survived -22f in our garden and are quite hardy.
 
try at own risk.