[2] Haageocereus platinospinus grows with several creeping shoots that reach diameters of 5 to 8 cm (2.0 to 3.1 in).

The light to dark brown thorns turn gray with age or become silvery white.

[3] Haageocereus platinospinus is widespread in Peru in the Arequipa and Tacna regions at altitudes of 800 to 2650 meters.

The first description as Cereus platinospinus was made in 1931 by Erich Werdermann and Curt Backeberg.

[4] The specific epithet platinospinus is derived from the Latin words platinum for 'silver' and spinus for 'thorned' and refers to the gray to silvery thorns.