[1][2] Pygmaeocereus bieblii grows individually with spherical, green shoots up to 5 cm (2.0 in) in diameter that barely protrude from the ground.

The 10 to 25 barely recognizable ribs are divided into wart-like humps.

The 3 to 10 comb-shaped radial spines are white to dark yellow and 1 to 1.5 mm (0.039 to 0.059 in) long.

[4] The specific epithet bieblii honors the German cactus collector Wolfgang Biebl.

As of December 2024[update], Plants of the World Online accepted two subspecies:[1] Pygmaeocereus bieblii is distributed in the Ancash region of Peru, northwest of Huaraz, at altitudes of 600 to 1800 meters.