baseball plant

noun

A type of succulent plant native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa, resembling a small round cactus, of species Euphorbia obesa.

Meanings

nounbaseball plant (plural baseball plants)

plural baseball plants

  1. A type of succulent plant native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa, resembling a small round cactus, of species Euphorbia obesa.

    Baseball plant can feel top-heavy when unpotting, as if the top could separate from the delicate roots.

    2011 April 3, Amy Bryant Aiello, Kate Bryant, “Terrestrial Orb”, in Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical Miniature Worlds, Timber Press, →ISBN, page 140
    1 more example

    The Baseball Plant is a unique member of the Euphorbia genus native to parts of South Africa. Typically sold as a singular small, round plant, it eventually stretches out and grows tall.

    2021 March 9, Rebecca De La Paz, Houseplants for Beginners: A Practical Guide to Choosing, Growing, and Helping Your Plants Thrive, Sourcebooks, Inc., →ISBN
  2. datedA baseball field.

    The University of Nebraska gave up baseball temporarily but will have a university team next year when a new baseball plant will be ready for use.

    1928, John L. Griffith, Athletic Journal, volume 8, number 7, page 3

Origin

Of the Euphorbia, named for the plant's resemblance in size and shape to a baseball.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

baseball plant. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/baseball%20plant

MLA

“baseball plant.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/baseball%20plant. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “baseball plant,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/baseball%20plant.

Source: baseball plant on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.