[2] Growing to 50 centimetres (20 in) tall by 10 centimetres (3.9 in) wide in a ball or oval shape, it is grey-green in colour with 7 to 9 prominent ribs, very long twisted spines and yellow flowers with a red centre in summer.

This species is grown, typically from seed, as an ornamental plant as it produces large, attractive yellow flowers with red central regions.

[5] Though tolerant of cold temperatures, it must be grown in a warm, sheltered spot which does not freeze in winter.

In cultivation in the UK, Astrophytum capricorne has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

[3] Prominent varieties and cultivars include: Mandujano, Maria; Bravo, Yolotzin; Verhulst, Johannes; Carrillo-Angeles, Israel; Golubov, Jordan (Feb 2015).