Types of Globose Cacti

Notocactus

• The common name for the genus Notocactus, ball cactus, reflects the number of globose species the group possesses. However, some members of the genus do grow in a columnar form. These South American cacti have abundant flowers even when young, blossoming only two years after germination. Flower color is generally yellow, but some species bloom in pink or red. The flower stigmas typically contrast with the petal color and come in dark red and purple. Although some members of the genus are demanding to grow, most species are suitable for beginners.

Mammillaria

• Of all the cacti commonly grown as houseplants, the genus Mammillaria, or the pincushion cacti, is the most widespread. These diminutive cacti are native to Central America and parts of the United States. A few species also grow in Canada, the Carribbean and South America. Pincushion cacti are characteristically globular, but may take on a short columnar form with age. Although the flowers of pincushion cacti are small, they are brightly colored, often pink or red and occur simultaneously in a ring around the top of the plant.

Echinopsis

• Plants in the genus Echinopsis, also known as sea-urchin cacti or Easter lily cacti, are typically globular in form. These South American cacti usually possess sharply defined ridges that run the length of the plant, converging at the crown and radiating out like meridians on a globe. Echinopsis is one of the oldest known genuses of cacti, first described in 1837. Easy care and large ornate flowers make Echinopsis a common houseplant. A related genus, Lobivia, is also globular with showy flowers.

Echinocactus and Ferocactus

• The genuses Ferocactus and Echinocactus, both known as barrel cacti, provide a number of cactus species widely used in landscaping, such as golden barrel (Echinocactus grusonii) and California barrel (Ferocactus cylindraceus). As the name "barrel cactus" suggests, older specimens of these plants can take on a columnar form, reminiscent of a wooden cask. However, many species, such as golden barrel, retain a spherical form throughout life. The genus names reflect their intense spination: fero- comes from Latin "ferox," or fierce, while echino- comes from the Greek word for hedgehog, "echinos."

Rebutia

• The genus Rebutia, or the crown cacti, contains 50 to 60 species, all native to Argentina or Bolivia. These low-growing, globular cacti remain quite small, but they readily develop pups and grow in clusters. In "Cacti & Succulents," author Hans Hecht called Rebutia "the optimal beginner's cactus" due to their easy care and ornate, abundant flowers. Their spination is light, making them easy to transplant.