[2] Armatocereus godingianus grows in the form of a shrub or tree with numerous spreading shoots and reaches heights of up to 10 meters.

The 15 - 25 needle-like, flexible, brown or yellow spines later turn gray and are spread out in all directions.

The egg-shaped fruits are initially green and later turn brown and 6 to 13 cm (2.4 to 5.1 in) long.

The first description as Lemaireocereus godingianus was made in 1920 by Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose.

Another nomenclatural synonym is Armatocereus godingianus (Britton & Rose) Backeb.