Parodia — 14 species

Parodia are compact, globular to columnar South American cacti that make excellent windowsill plants, with species such as Tom Thumb Cactus and Ball Cactus reaching only a few centimetres across. They thrive in bright, direct light for at least five to six hours daily and prefer a soak-and-dry watering regime, with soil allowed to dry completely between waterings. Toxicity is not uniform across the genus — some species, including Parodia magnifica, are reported as mildly toxic to pets. Verify each species individually before placing around cats or dogs.