Matucana aurantiaca subsp. polzii is an unusual and highly attractive cactus with a squat flattened green body, pronounced ribs and very few, widely-spaced, short, tiny, pectinate spines. The small sparsely-spaced spines and bright green body give it an almost bald look but its most immediately obvious visual feature is the large number of offsets it produces which in time creates a dense clustering plant. The flowers are produced near the apex and are zygomorphic and funnel-shaped, with a curved shape and tall floral tube that are reminiscent of a cowl vent on a ship, a distinctive feature of the genus. There are small woolly tufts on the curving pinkish-orange funnel and the petals are carmine pink-red with a yellow centre. The upright filaments and creamy yellow anthers sit below the similarly coloured style and stigma in a tight cluster.

Matucana aurantiaca subsp. polzii was first described in 1986 as Matucana polzii. It was subsumed within Matucana aurantiaca as a subspecies in 2002.

Its native range is northern Peru on steep slopes at elevations of 2000-2300 metres around the headwaters of the Marañón River.

All Matucana species are desirable choice collectable cacti with their bright green bodies and sparse spines and make ideal and easy-to-care-for houseplants.