Harrisia eriophora grows shrubby and often forms dense groups with upright, arching or spreading shoots with heights of 3 to 5 meters.

The six to 13 needle-like, light brown, gray or yellow spines have a darker tip and are 2 to 4 centimeters long.

Its flower tube is covered with a few scales and long, white hairs.

The obovate to spherical, yellow to dull red fruits are edible.

The first description as Cereus eriophorus was made in 1837 by Ludwig Georg Karl Pfeiffer.