Sub-species
subsp. haseltoniana 	syn gigantea
This sub-species is endemic to Atacama Desert in northern Chile growing on a coastal strip between the sea and the steeply rising coastal mountains.  

It is clump forming up to 1.5 m (5 ft) tall with a light green body that is tinged red and has yellow woolly crown and areoles, that produce golden coloured 0-8 radial spines and 0-2 central spines. It has yellow funnel-shaped flowers with bright yellow anthers that appear during late summer. Under cultivation protection from excessive heat and hot sun is required and it is frost tender.