Saguaro
Carnegiea gigantea
Latin Name: Carnegiea gigantea
Common Name: Saguaro
Native Distribution: Sonoran Desert
Size: Up to 40’ h & 3’ in diameter
Flower: Clusters of 3” wide waxy white flowers adorn the tips of the arms & the main stem in May & Jun; each flower opens at night & blooms into the next day; followed by green fruit which opens to reveal red inner pulp
Foliage: Central spines cluster along the ribs, with radial spines generally shorter
Site Preferences: Full sun in well-drained soil
Landscape Uses: Use a single specimen as a focal point; consider planting “spears” (young saguaros w/o arms) of different sizes to mimic the range of sizes found in nature
Plant Characteristics
Grows arms at 60-70 years old
Believed to live to 200 years
Supported by a woody inner skeleton supports 10 or more arms
Medium green skin covers 12-20 ribs
ribs expand & contract based on amount of stored moisture in plant
For young nursery grown plants: use shade cloth to protect from sun
Hardy to mid teens F