[2] Haageocereus acranthus grows in a columnar shape with arching or upright, sparsely branched shoots and reaches heights of 1 to 2 meters with diameters of up to 8 cm (3.1 in).

The usually single central spine, occasionally several are present, is directed downwards and up to 4 cm (1.6 in) long.

[3] Accepted subspecies:[2] Haageocereus acranthus is widespread in the Peruvian regions of Ica and Lima at altitudes of 200 to 2700 meters.

The first description as Cereus acranthus was made in 1913 by Friedrich Karl Johann Vaupel.

(1911) and Binghamia acrantha (Vaupel) Britton & Rose(1920, incorrect name ICBN article 11.4).