Cochemiea albicans grows with basal branching and forms groups. The cylindrical, pale green plant bodies, almost entirely covered by thorns, can reach up to 20 centimeters in height and 6 centimeters in diameter. The broad, conical warts lack milky sap. The
areoles are densely woolly with a few bristles. There are 4 to 8 straight central spines (sometimes one is hooked), which are 0.8 to 1 centimeter long, white with brown tips. The 14 to 21 white marginal spines are 0.5 to 0.8 centimeters long. The broad, funnel-shaped flowers, about 2 centimeters in diameter, are white to light pink with pink central stripes. The styles, 10 to 12 millimeters long, have pink stigma lobes, and the stamens are pink with yolk-yellow anthers. The fruits are slender, club-shaped, orange to red, and 10 to 18 millimeters long. The seeds are black and balloon-shaped. File:Mammillaria albicans.jpg| Mature plant growing in
Desert Botanical Garden File:Cochemiea albicans1.png|Flower ==Distribution==