# saguaro (*Carnegiea gigantea*) The saguaro is a tall cactus that can grow very big and live for a long time! It has beautiful flowers that bloom in the spring and can be home to many animals. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 42 - **Habitat:** Desert ![saguaro](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/CarnegieaGigantea.jpg&width=800) Photo: RoFra, CC BY-SA 3.0 de · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CarnegieaGigantea.jpg) ## Appearance The saguaro is a towering, green cactus with a thick, ribbed stem and often many upward-curving arms. Its waxy skin helps retain water, and in late spring, white, cup-shaped flowers bloom atop its arms, later turning into bright red, edible fruits. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Cactaceae - **Genus:** Carnegiea ## Interesting facts - A fully grown saguaro can weigh over two tons, as much as a small car! - It doesn't start growing its iconic arms until it is around 75 years old! - Its ribbed skin allows it to swell with water and shrink like an accordion. - The saguaro cactus is protected by law in Arizona and cannot be harmed. ## Special abilities - **Water Hoarder:** Saguaro can expand its ribbed stem to store huge amounts of rainwater, helping it survive long droughts in the desert. - **Spiky Shield:** Saguaro has sharp spines that protect its soft, watery interior from thirsty animals trying to take a bite. - **Lunar Lures:** Saguaro flowers open only at night, releasing a sweet scent to attract nectar-feeding bats and moths for pollination. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 450-1500 cm - **Spread:** 200-500 cm - **Flower Size:** 8-12 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Bat ## Ecological connections - **Shelter:** [Creosote Bush](https://www.snappit.app/explore/creosote-bush) (*Larrea tridentata*) — provides shade for young saguaro seedlings - **Pollinates:** Mexican Long-tongued Bat (*Leptonycteris yerbabuenae*) — visits night-blooming flowers for nectar - **Eats:** [White-winged Dove](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-winged-dove) (*Zenaida asiatica*) — consumes the saguaro's sweet red fruits - **Shelter:** [Gila Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gila-woodpecker) (*Melanerpes uropygialis*) — drills nest cavities inside the cactus stem ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Night Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/night-blooming): Night blooming plants open their flowers after sunset, often to attract nocturnal pollinators with their scent and appearance. - [Thorny Stem](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thorny-stem): Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Succulent](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/succulent): Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be careful not to touch the spines; they can be sharp! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify saguaro? Compare leaf arrangement, rosette shape, ribs, spines and flowers. Keep in mind that drought and strong sun can shift a plant's color and shape. Succulent Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is saguaro? 450-1500 cm ### How wide does saguaro spread? 200-500 cm ### How big are the flowers on saguaro? 8-12 cm ### When does saguaro bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is saguaro edible? Yes ### Is saguaro toxic? None ### What is saguaro's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Boyce Thompson Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boyce-thompson-arboretum) — Arizona, US · Botanical Garden - [Mesa Grande](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesa-grande) — Arizona, US · Historic Site - [Sabino Canyon](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sabino-canyon) — Arizona, US · Natural Landmark - [Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arizona-sonora-desert-museum) — Arizona, US · Zoo - [DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/degrazia-gallery-in-the-sun-historic-district) — Arizona, US · Historic District - [Tohono Chul](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tohono-chul) — Arizona, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see saguaro](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/saguaro) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Saguaro: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/saguaro)