Its only species, Denmoza rhodacantha, is native to northwest Argentina.

[3] Denmoza rhodocantha starts out as a globular cactus and stays that way for quite some time before growing into a 0.5 to 1.5 m (1.5 to 5 ft) column with a diameter of 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 in).

The fruits are spherical and contain shiny black-brown seeds with a diameter of about 1.3 mm (0.05 in).

[7] Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose transferred the species to their newly established genus Denmoza in 1922.

[8] Denmoza rhodacantha is found in northwestern and western Argentina on the eastern slopes and foothills of the Andes in the provinces from Mendoza to Salta at altitudes of 800 to 2800 meters.