Maihuenia patagonica, commonly known locally as chupasangre or siempre verde, is a succulent cactus shrub native to Chile and Argentina.

[3] Maihuenia patagonica forms dense cushions about 30–40 cm (12–16 in) tall and 3 meters in diameter with densely-packed spines.

The 2 marginal thorns (rarely only one or completely missing) are sometimes inconspicuous, sometimes lie on the surface of the shoot and are 2 to 8 millimeters long.

[4] The chromosome count is 2n = 22[5] Maihuenia patagonica is widespread in southern Argentina and Chile at altitudes of up to 500 meters.

[6] Spanish common names are “Chupa Sangre”, “Siempre Verde”, and “Yerba del Guanaco”.