Parodia / Notocactus leninghausii - Exotic Cacti / Succulent - 10 Seeds

Parodia is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae, native to the uplands of Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay. This genus has about 50 species, many of which have been transferred from Eriocactus, Notocactus and Wigginsia. They range from small globose plants to 1 m (3 ft) tall columnar cacti. All are deeply ribbed and spiny, with single flowers at or near the crown. Some species produce offsets at the base.

Parodia leninghausii is a species of South American cactus commonly found as a houseplant. Common names include Lemon Ball cactus, Golden Ball cactus and Yellow Tower cactus. P. leninghausii is native to the Rio Grande do Sul province in the south of Brazil. In those regions, winter nights are cold, with a light freeze. These cacti survive in these conditions because they are quite dry at that time. The species have many thin golden spines. The young plants are globular, then columnar up to 1m tall, 12 cm diameter and about 30 ribs. Old plants cluster from the base. Flowers are yellow, 5 cm diameter, at the top of the plants, but only if adult at least 20 cm tall. Sometimes, they present monstrous forms. There is a cultivar albispina with white spines. As most of the cactus, they need well drained soil, sunny exposure, regularly watering in summer and not at all in winter. In temperate climate, keep them outside in summer. In the wild and in winter, plant accepts frost at -4 °C if totally dry. In cultivation, it is preferable to keep cold temperature, but more than +2 °C.

USDA Zone - 8

Season to Sow - Spring