The plant's surface can be smooth, papillate, granular, or covered with waxy deposits.

Each plant has two to seven spines that emerge from the areoles, which are arranged in a protruding, spreading, or comb-like pattern.

The small, short, funnel-shaped flowers of Uebelmannia are yellow and typically bloom near the tip of the shoot during the day.

The flower tubes are covered with a few areoles, from which dense wool and a few bristles emerge.

The fruits of Uebelmannia are spherical to cylindrical, yellow or red in color, and resemble berries.