Copiapoas come from the Atacama desert, on the coastline of northern Chile. The name Copiapoa comes from the city of Copiapó in northern Chile. Copiapoas have adapted to meeting their water need from the fog that often blankets the coast, since it rains there excessively rarely. As a result, they need to be watered with care, never excessively, in cultivation. They are slow growing.