Origin and Habitat: Atacama/Coquimbo - Huasco to southern of Fray Jorge inland in the valleys of Elqui and Choros, Chile. It is possible to find an interesting colony in Freirina.
Altitude: 200-1200 metres above sea level.
Habitat: It grows on gentle slopes and almost flat areas on rocky soil along with scattered shrubs up to 1,5 m tall and other cacti such as Eriosyce napinaSN|3030]]SN|2370]], Eriosyce napinaSN|2429]]SN|2370]] ssp. lembckei, Eriosyce crispaSN|2370]]SN|2429]], Eriosyce villosaSN|2370]]SN|3030]] and Eulychnia brevifloraSN|7528]]SN|7528]].

• Copiapoa coquimbana var. alticostata (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
• Copiapoa alticostata F.Ritter

• Copiapoa coquimbana (Karw. ex Rümpler) Britton & Rose
• Echinocactus coquimbanus Karw. ex Rümpler
• Copiapoa coquimbana var. alticostata (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
• Copiapoa alticostata F.Ritter
• Copiapoa coquimbana var. armata F.Ritter
• Copiapoa coquimbana var. imbricata Kníže
• Copiapoa imbricata KK102 El Molle Kníže
• Copiapoa coquimbana var. pendulina (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
• Copiapoa coquimbana subs. pendulina (F.Ritter) Doweld
• Copiapoa pendulina F.Ritter
• Copiapoa coquimbana var. pseudocoquimbana (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
• Copiapoa coquimbana subs. pseudocoquimbana (F.Ritter) Doweld
• Copiapoa pseudocoquimbana F.Ritter
• Copiapoa coquimbana vallenarensis (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
• Copiapoa coquimbana subs. vallenarensis (F.Ritter) Doweld
• Copiapoa vallenarensis F.Ritter
• Copiapoa coquimbana var. wagenknechtii F.Ritter
• Copiapoa neocoquimbana var. wagenknechtii (F.Ritter) Y.Itô
• Copiapoa wagenknechtii F.Ritter ex Backeb.
• Copiapoa militaris Kníže
• Copiapoa neocoquimbana Y.Itô
• Copiapoa pepiniana (Lem. ex Salm-Dyck) Backeb.
• Cereus pepinianus Lem. ex Salm-Dyck
• Copiapoa pepiniana (K.Schum. non Lem.) Backeb. in Backeb. & F.M.Knuth
• Echinocactus pepinianus Cels ex Salm-Dyck
• Neoporteria pepiniana (Lem. ex Salm-Dyck) Borg
• Copiapoa pseudocoquimbana var. chaniarensis F.Ritter
• Copiapoa pseudocoquimbana var. domeykoensis F.Ritter
• Copiapoa domeykoensis Kníže
• Copiapoa pseudocoquimbana f. variegata hort.
• Copiapoa pseudocoquimbana var. vulgata F.Ritter
• Copiapoa serenana M.Voldan

Description: Copiapoa alticostataSN|1348]]SN|1368]] (= Copiapoa coquimbanaSN|1348]]SN|1348]] var. alticostata), which is now subsumed in Coquimbana coquimhana, is considered by many authors a natural hybrid between Copiapoa echinoidesSN|1109]]SN|1109]] var. dura and Copiapoa coquimbanaSN|1348]]SN|1348]]. It is part of the very variable Copiapoa coquimbanaSN|1368]]SN|1348]] complex, but distinguishes from other forms for its tall ribs and very strong, dark brown to black spines, it would be a good idea to retain the old name as well. It varies considerably in cultivation from native habitat. In habitat, the bodies are much compact and very spiny. When grown in pots, this species tends to elongate and have darker spines on most of the body, with grey-white spines only appearing on the oldest areoles at the bottom of the plant.
Habit: It grows in clusters and may form splendid mounded clumps with time.
Stem: Young stems spherical green, later elongated 20-40 cm tall grey-green or dark silver, and crowned by a dense mass of white wool, particularly at flowering time. Apex in mature specimens up to 5 cm in diameter, often spineless and depressed.
Ribs: It has high ribs about 12 to 18 mm tall, visibly separated and strongly tuberculate especially in young specimens.
Areoles: Large, broad, almost round about 8-13 mm Ø. Young areoles filled with soft dull white felted wool quickly ageing to almost dark grey and often sunken into the ribs.
Spines: Strong, stoutly subulate, rigid, at first dark brown to black, afterwards becoming greyish.
Radial spines: Stout, fairly slender, evenly spreading outwards, more or less standing out in a radiating manner, slightly curved inward, with a wide lateral spine angle, round in cross-section.
Central spines: 1 to 4, thicker, upward pointing, round in cross-section.
Flowers: 1 to 3 at a time, diurnal closing at night, protracting the period of opening many days, funnel-shaped, yellow-pink.
Blooming season: Spring.
Fruit: Round to elongate green.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Walther Haage “Kakteen von A bis Z” Anaconda ed. 2012 ISBN: 3866472609
2) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
3) Friedrich Ritter - Kakteen in Südamerika (Ergebnisse meiner 20jährigen Feldforschungen) 1980
4) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006

Cultivation and Propagation: Considering that Copiapoa coquimbanaSN|1348]]SN|1348]] var. alticostata comes from a habitat with an extremely arid climate, they are remarkably tolerant of pot culture. These plants have taproots and are susceptible to overwatering. They requires also an appropriate air circulation. Copiapoas are summer grower species easy to cultivate.
Growth rate: This is a slow growing cactus kept for the beauty of its form that will make clumps given the best conditions.
Soils: It likes very coarse mineral cactus mix soil, but can become too elongated if compost is too rich.
Repotting: Use pot with good drainage.
Watering: It requires light but regular waterings in summer, but let the soil mix dry between waterings, but do not overwater (Rot prone), it must be strictly kept dry throughout the winter quiescent period since it is very sensitive to any moisture excesses keep dry in winter.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Hardiness: Not highly tolerant of a great deal of frost. They need to be kept in a cool place during winter rest and are resistant to light frost if kept on the dry side prior to, and during, cold weather ( they are hardy to -2 C ° C short periods). However some warmth throughout the year will increase the grower's success (minimum 5° to 10°C during rest season).
Exposition: Requires full sun or light shade and careful watering to keep plant compact with strong coloured spines. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages flowering and heavy spine production. Light shadow my be useful in the hottest summer days.
Uses: It is an excellent plant for container growing. It always looks good and stays small. It look fine in a cold greenhouse and frame or outdoor in a rockery.
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Red spiders may be effectively rubbed up by watering the infested plants from above.
- Mealy bugs: Mealy bugs occasionally develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales: Scales are rarely a problem. It is wise to treat your whole collection with a systemic insecticide twice a year in spring and autumn.
- Rot: Rot is only a minor problem with cacti if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much. To prevent rottenness it is also advisable to surround its root neck by very rough sand or grit, this help a fast water drainage.
Propagation: Seeds (or offsets if available), Grafting is often used to speed growth rate and to create a back-up to plants in collection. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21-27° C in spring, remove gradually the glass cover as soon the plants will be well rooted (ca 1-2 weeks) and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants!