[2] It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
[3] Copiapoa hypogaea usually grows solitary, occasionally in small groups, rarely protruding above the ground surface, sometimes even completely sunken, with bulbous roots.
The 10 to 14 ribs are slightly twisted, notched broadly flat with chin-like projections.
The areoles are sunken and lined with white wool.
The yellow flowers appear at the tip of the shoot and are wide open.