The plant is original of Chile, Valparaiso. It is a columnar cactus, of about 12 cm of diameter that can get to exceed 1 m of height, with 20 ribs. It is very variable in aspect.

The radial spines are 24, with 4 central that are strong, brown at first changing with the age to white  pale. 

It needs plenty of sun and suffers with the high summer temperatures. Substrate with good drainage since she is prone to basal rotting when young. Generous irrigation at time of activity and in the heat of the summer.

It is advisable to leave them dry from middle of November to obtain fantastic flowerings later in  January/February. Their flowers go from the rose to the violet, giving the sensation of being fluorescent and being very difficult to photograph in good conditions because that particularity. Another positive aspect is that it resists the cold without problem. Be careful, this cactus does not vegetate well in alkaline grounds and it does not have to be fertilized.