The spherical to cylindrical shoots branch out from the base as well as laterally.

They are gray-green to gray and reach a diameter of between 12 and 25 centimeters.

The up to nine radial spines are yellowish with a dark tip and up to three centimeters long.

[2] Copiapoa gigantea is found in Chile in the Antofagasta region near, the coast of Paposo.

Nomenclatural synonyms are Copiapoa cinerea var.