This is the most common Ferocactus in Baja California Sur, ranging from around Ciudad Constitucion to Cabo San Lucas. It has a gray-green body with somewhat sparse spination. The flowers range in color from yellow with red veins to red-orange. It is closely related to Ferocactus peninsulae, which occurs to its north, and some lump F. santa-maria into this species. These plants are seedlings in 8-inch pots.