Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Notocactus leninghausii
Golden Ball Cactus
Young plants of Notocactus leninghausii are near-perfect spheres; with age they elongate into short columns and offset at the base to form a low cluster. The whole plant is covered in soft golden bristles that catch the light, which is where the Golden Ball Cactus name comes from.
It is a Brazilian species from rocky grassland, tolerant of more light and less heat than most collectable cacti, and it is as much at home in a bright interior as in a gravel bed.
Specifications
- Height0.6 to 1 metre at full size
- Width0.3 to 0.6 metres as a clustering group
- Native toSouthern Brazil
- FoliageLeafless; ribbed green stems densely covered in soft golden-yellow bristles and spines
- Growth rateSlow
Conditions
- SoilRequires sharply drained, gritty soil or an open cactus medium
- LightFull sun to bright indirect light; partial shade in extreme heat
- WaterVery low; water sparingly in the growing season and keep dry when cool
- ClimateThrives in arid and semi-arid conditions; sensitive to frost and to prolonged wet
Additional Features
- FlowersPale lemon-yellow flowers open at the stem apex on mature plants
- UsesGravel gardens, raised planters, rockeries, interior display and container collections
- SpacingPlant 0.3 to 0.4 metres apart to allow the cluster to develop
- Low MaintenanceNeeds no pruning; the only real requirement is restraint with the hose
- Pest ResistanceWatch for mealybug at the base of the ribs; otherwise untroubled
- Drought ToleranceFully drought adapted and damaged far more readily by excess water
- FormSpherical when young, becoming a short clustering column with age
The Golden Ball Cactus is a container and gravel-bed specimen, valued for the soft gold of its spination rather than for scale.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 09 September 2026