Pleiospilos compactus is distributed in South Africa over the area of the 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. minor by its wider leaves and tumbling fruit. The flowers are yellow. These plants are seedlings in 4-inch pots.
