Native to the coastal deserts on the steep mountain base among fragmented stones in Chile. The long tuberous root of this Copiapoa is buried deeply in these soils which are very poor in organic matter. In the area where this plants grows there is very little rain but frequent coastal fog, which provides a significant part of their water needs. The common presence in habitat of plants with juvenile spination forms on old taproots is due to the frequent grazing damage inflicted by donkeys and Guanacos