What types of cactus ball are there? Introduction to the latest varieties

What types of cactus ball are there?

The cactus ball is a plant of the Cactaceae family native to the grasslands of South America, with 25 species including the ivory golden barrel cactus and the large golden barrel cactus. The silver ball cactus and the golden ball cactus are the most common types, covered on the outside with woolly down. Hairy cactus ball types have smaller flowers, usually yellow or red, sometimes only 1 cm (0.5 in) in diameter. Hairless cactus ball groups have larger flowers, reaching up to 6 cm.

1. Classification by genus

Classified by genus, the types of cactus ball can be divided into: cactus ball, short-haired ball, Changsheng ball, Jinsheng ball, Wangsheng ball and golden barrel ball, etc.

1. Cactus ball: also known as grass ball, Huasheng ball. The stem is round and spherical, the old stem is barrel-shaped, and the flowers are white and fragrant.

2. Short-haired ball: the plant is spherical or cylindrical, and after blooming the flowers are very large, with white flower color.

3. Changsheng ball: the body is yellow-green or pale green, with large pale pink flowers and a fragrance.

4. Jinsheng ball: the body is yellow-green, clustered, with large white flowers.

5. Wangsheng ball: the plant is gray-green, spherical or cylindrical, with large dark pink or deep red flowers.

6. Golden barrel ball: the stem is round and spherical, solitary or in clusters. The top of the ball is densely covered with golden-yellow wool. It has 21-37 ribs, a very distinctive feature.

2. Classification by appearance

Classified by appearance, the types of cactus ball can be divided into: down types, wart types, treasure types, hairy column types, strong-spine types, sea urchin types, top-flowering types, etc. The spines and hairs of the cactus ball also vary in length, shortness, sparseness and density; the colored hairs include red, yellow, golden yellow, etc. Among them, the cactus ball varieties that can be grafted include Fei Mudan, Cui Mudan, Shanchui, Red Sun, Jinhuang, Jinniu, Baiyuweng and crab claw orchid, etc.

3. Classification by whether they are edible

Classified by whether they are edible, cactus balls can be divided into edible and ornamental cactus balls, and there are some differences between the two: edible cactus balls have 12-14 ribs, and the spines are straight and very hard; ornamental cactus balls cannot be eaten, their ribs may be many or few, their forms are also varied, and the spines are soft and pale yellow; while edible cactus balls are dark green, and the whole cactus ball has a strong flavor, while ornamental cactus balls do not.

Further reading: How to water a cactus ball? How often to water it?, Does a cactus ball protect against radiation?