[2] Neowerdermannia chilensis grows with spherical to depressed spherical, dark grey-green to bluish green shoots.

The single stiff, protruding and unhooked central spine is brown to black.

The up to 20 flexible and more or less grey-pink radial spines become darker with age.

[3] Neowerdermannia chilensis is common in Peru and northern Chile in the Andes at altitudes of 3200 to 4200 meters.

Nomenclatural synonyms are Weingartia chilensis (Backeb.)