A small, blue-green to gray-green, barrel cactus that is globose. As it grows the cactus will become more columnar. Large individuals can range in height of 16 to 20 inches tall and 5 to 8 inches wide. Individuals are single stemmed with 8 ribs that spiral around the base to the apex. Each areole has three central spines, one black that curves downward, and two red or gray that curve upwards; and five radial spines that are black or partially gray. Flowers are pink to red, and bloom near the apex of the stem. Flowers are 1.5 to 2.7 inches in diameter.