| Shape | Cylindrical or spherical and is covered in long, plentiful spines. |
| Landscape | In potted succulent collections, potted patio or indoor plant, among rock gardens or as a specimen. |
| Propagation | Division. |
| Cultivation | Requires little water in a moderately rich, well drained cactus potting, sandy, gravelly or loamy soil. It is drought tolerant and requires full sun exposure. |
| Notable Specimens | Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America.
Centennial Conservatory, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. |
| Habitat | It is found in gravelly, rocky, or sandy soils of southwestern United States of America and northwestern Mexico. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Fleshy succulent bark covered in a coating of showy medium-thin spines. Areoles insignificant yet line the ribs, almost hidden by the countless spines. |
| Flower Description | Showy, daisy-like blooms with up to 100 petals appear near the apex of columns in optimal growing conditions before fruit. |
| Fruit Description | Ovate-spherical cactus pear-like fruit that appears after flowers. |
| Colour Description | Dark green to medium green succulent flesh. Dark brown areoles with pale creamy-white spines that fade to a coral pink near the base. Yellow to creamy-white flowers. |
| Texture Description | Smooth flesh covern in thorns. |
