Plant in full to part sun. Low water is all that is needed for this plant but consider watering once or twice a month in summer to keep plants looking good, especially in times of drought. In containers plants will need water once or twice a week in summer, and in winter, perhaps a light watering once a month or so. Mature plants are hardy down to 20°F, but protect the new growth tips when it gets into the 20s. Younger plants may be more tender, especially if grown in a greenhouse.

The flowers are pollinated by bats and moths, though other pollinators help as the flower stays active and open into the next day allowing other critters to take advantage of the nectar and pollen. The fruits are edible for people, as well as birds, other animals, and insects.

The genus, Stetsonia, is named for Francis Lynde Stetson, a New York lawyer and gardener. The species, coryne, comes from the Greek word koryne, which means "club" referring to the look of the younger stems which are very club-like. The genus Stetsonia is monotypic, there is only one species in this genus.

Stetsonia coryne is distributed in high-altitude arid regions, such as the deserts and dry forest (Gran Chaco) of northwestern Argentina, as well as in Bolivia, Paraguay, and the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul.