The one to five yellow spines, slightly curved backward and protruding, turn gray with age and range from 0.5 to 5.5 cm (0.20 to 2.17 in) in length.

The approximately spherical fruits are green-olive, measuring 1.3 to 2 cm (0.51 to 0.79 in) in length, and eventually dry out and split lengthwise.

[3] Ferocactus schwarzii is commonly found in Sinaloa, Mexico and occurs between elevations between 30 and 200 meters.

The IUCN Red List classifies this species as "Data Deficient" (DD).

The specific epithet "schwarzii" is in honor of Fritz Schwarz, a cactus collector who worked in Mexico.