Lophocereus are bushy cacti, little or very branched from the base, with 4-15 pronounced ribs.

In summer, on the sides of the stem, on the pseudocephalium in L. schotti, self-sterile tubular flowers of reddish, orange, or greenish color, sometimes yellow, emerge.

The fruits are consumed fresh or dried and used to make sauces, ice cream and jams.

They are used as medicine for earaches, diarrhea, kidney and bladder problems, ulcers, tumors, even cirrhosis.

Its wood is used in construction and planted close together they serve as fences for corrals.