This is a nice solitary cylindrical cactus with large tubercles and pink flowers. This species can bloom from an early age. Like many cactus forms of dry, hot region of Mexico, plants are genetically variable. This is a somewhat cylindrically-growing plant that can reach almost a foot tall, occasionally just over a foot, and about half as wide. The flowers are typically pink or magenta, but some plants may. have purple or white or cream flowers.

Grow in a container in very well-drained soil. Water moderately in the warm season and keep drier in the winter. As with many summer-growing cacti, people tend to overwater them in winter, which makes them susceptible to rot and more frost tender. Hardy to 20°F.

The genus Thelocactus is from the Greek thele which means "nipple" - making reference to the tubercles. It is unclear what the species, conothelos, means. Cono translates to vagina, and thelos could mean telos which means “end” or “edge” or “goal”.

species grows in xerophytic shrubland (matorral xerofilo) on limestone hills in the Mexican states of Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, and Tamaulipas. This species is quite abundant and variable.

Thelocactus conothelos on iNaturalist