Parodia concinna
ball cactus
A small, roughly spherical, ribbed cactus with yellow or brown spines and a woolly crown. Funnel-shaped yellow flowers are produced from the crown in spring
Size
Ultimate height
Up to 10cmTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
0–0.1 metreGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | Yellow | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H2Botanical details
- Family
- Cactaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Potentially harmful
- Handle with care due to prickly spines. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
- Genus
Parodia are cacti with either solitary or clustered, many-ribbed, globose, spiny stems, with funnel-shaped flowers near the apex
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- S. Brazil, Uruguay
How to grow
Cultivation
Under glass, grown in cactus compost in full or bright filtered light. From mid-spring to late summer, water moderately and apply a low nitrogen fertiliser every two months. Keep almost dry at other times. See houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation for further advice
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown at 20°C in spring or summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Houseplants
- Conservatory and greenhouse
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to mealybugs
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.