Parodia scopa (syn. Notocactus scopa), the silver ball cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae, native to upland southern Brazil and Uruguay. It is a ball- or cylinder-shaped cactus growing to 5- tall by 10cm (00inches) broad, with a spiny, woolly crown and pale yellow flowers in summer.[1]
The specific epithet scopa means "broom" and refers to the long spines. The species was transferred from Notocactus to Parodia in 1997 by David Hunt.[2]
In cultivation it requires a minimum temperature of 10C, therefore in temperate regions it must be grown under glass or as a houseplant.
The subspecies P. scopa subsp. scopa has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3] [4]