Types of Parodia – Balloon Cactus, Silver Ball, or Tom Thumb

Choose a balloon cactus, a silver ball, or a tom thumb first.

Choose a balloon cactus, a silver ball, or a tom thumb first

The first choice is the look you want. Balloon cactus is a blue-green globe with woolly ribs. Silver ball wears a dense white coat. Tom thumb stays a tiny lemon globe. If the tag only says Parodia or Notocactus, look at the spines and the size, then pick that kind. [1] [2]

Browse by kind

Match the woolly balloon, the silver coat, or the tiny globe, then pick that kind. A silver ball will not give you blue-green woolly ribs, and a tom thumb will not fill a 12-inch pot. Care for the plant you already have on How to Grow Balloon Cactus. [3] [4]

Balloon cactus

balloon cactus is the blue-green globe with wool between the ribs and yellow flowers on the crown. Tags may say Notocactus magnificus or green ball. Buy this group for that woolly balloon, not for a silver bristly column. It is Parodia magnifica, not balloon flower.

Silver ball

silver ball cactus is densely covered in white spines. It starts as a globe and can lengthen into a short column. Tags may say Notocactus scopa or snowball. Buy it for the silver coat, not for woolly blue-green ribs.

Tom thumb

tom thumb cactus stays a tiny globe, about two to four inches across, with stout spines and yellow flowers. Tags may say lemon ball or Notocactus mammulosus. Buy it for a small windowsill globe, not for a 12-inch balloon.

If you wanted a silver bristly ball, buy silver ball — balloon cactus is a blue-green globe with woolly ribs.