This complex group of plants is from the Chihuahuan Desert of Coahuila and Nuevo Leon, Mexico, where it grows at high elevations. Thelocactus panarottoanus is considered to be part of T. conothelos, but we keep it separate here. It is a solitary plant with a globose body bearing numerous ribs, tubercles, and varied-color spines. The flowers are a light yellow. These plants probably are frost hardy. They are seedlings in 2-inch pots.