[2] Ferocactus haematacanthus is a solitary cactus with initially bluish-green, later green stems, growing up to 30-120 cm (47 in) tall and 25-36 cm (14 in) in diameter.

The stems have 13-17 ribs and bear reddish thorns.

The cactus produces funnel-shaped, purple-pink to rose-purple flowers measuring 6-7 cm (2.8 in) in length and diameter, followed by egg-shaped, deep purple fruits that are 2-3.5 cm (1.4 in) long.

[3] This species is native to the Mexican states of Puebla and Veracruz, at elevations above 2200 meters.

In 1936, Curt Backeberg and Frederik Marcus Knuth reclassified it into the genus Ferocactus.