Echinocereus pentalophus forms richly branched, low and splayed groups up to 1 meter in diameter.

The single protruding central spine, which can also be missing, is yellowish to dark brown and is up to 3 cm (1.2 in) long.

The egg-shaped green fruits have brown thorns and loose wool.

[3] Accepted subspecies:[4] The cactus species is found from San Luis Potosí state, through Northeastern Mexico, and into the southern Rio Grande Valley in southeastern Texas and in the Mexican states of Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo and Querétaro..[2] The first description as Cereus pentalophus by Augustin-Pyrame de Candolle was published in 1828.

[5] The specific epithet pentalophus is derived from the Greek words penta for five and lophos for comb and refers to the mostly five-ribbed shoots of the species.