Scientific Name
Carnegiea gigantea (Engelm.) Britton & Rose
Common Name(s)
Saguaro, Saguaro Cactus, Sahuaro, Giant Cactus, Sage of the Desert
Synonym(s)
Cereus giganteus, Pilocereus engelmannii, Pilocereus giganteus
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Pachycereae
Genus: Carnegiea
Origin
This species is native to the Sonoran Desert in the United States, Arizona, the Whipple Mountains and Imperial County areas of California, and the Mexican state of Sonora.
Description
Carnegiea gigantea is a tree-like cactus with a ribbed stem that can grow up to 65 feet (20 m) tall and up to 2.5 feet (75 cm) in diameter. It is the largest columnar cactus native to the United States but is extremely slow-growing, reaching only 0.25 inches (0.6 cm) in height after two years. It flowers once it has reached about 30 to 35 years of age and has a height of about 6.6 feet (2 m). The first branches appear after reaching a height of about 16.5 feet (5 m) and age 50 to 70 years.
The flowers are white and appear just below the top of the stem. They can reach up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) in length and 2.4 inches (6 cm) in diameter. The fleshy edible fruits are red and can grow up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) long.
The Saguaro blossom is the State Wildflower of Arizona.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 8a to 11b: from 10 °F (−12.2 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
It is not legal to procure a Saguaro Cactus for home cultivation by digging it out of the desert. Beyond that, mature Saguaros almost always die when transplanted.
Saguaro Cactus babies grow under the protection of nurse trees. The cactus will continue to grow, and its nurse tree will often expire. It is thought the cactus may cause the nurse tree to die by competing for resources. The nurse trees shelter Saguaro Cactus babies from the sun's harsh rays and disperse moisture from evaporation.
Saguaro Cactus must grow in well-drained grit and receive low water levels, with the soil drying completely between watering. In spring, fertilizing with cactus food will help the plant complete its growth cycle.
See more at How to Grow and Care for a Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea).
Forms
Links
- Back to genus Carnegiea
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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