Pleiospilos compactus is distributed in the area of southern Northern Cape Province, northeastern Western Cape Province, and lapping into the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This species is highly variable, and the subspecies are generally distinguished by fruits and flowering stalks, in the case of P. compactus ssp. canus (P. dekenahii) by 12 locules on the fruiting stalks. The flowers are yellow. These plants are seedlings in 4-inch pots.