Large unbranched columnar cactus with furry spines, to about 30 feet tall. The flowers appear on a pseudocephalium near the top (only), usually facing north. The top of mature, reproductive plants leans slightly in this direction.

Found in dense forests in Puebla, overlapping in range with C. tetetzo (and natural hybrids are said to exist). Though similar in stature, these two plants are easily distinguished when mature. Only tetetzo branches (unless there is injury). Only columna-trajani leans north. Only columna-trajani has a (pseudo)cephalium. This Cephalocereus is typically found at slightly higher altitudes and replaces tetetzo there.

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