Saguaro Cactus

A staple of the Sonoran Desert, saguaros are the tallest cactus in the world. Only found on the western border of California, Central to Southeast Arizona, on the eastern border of New Mexico, and the northern part of Mexico. Saguaros grow slowly in the first life stages but will stand monumental for the rest of their lives. An average saguaro will reach 40 feet in height, the record is 78 feet(found not in the park). The abundance of spines on the saguaro are adapted leaves to shade the saguaro. Even though the saguaro loves heat, it is very fragile once temperatures go below freezing causing broken arms, broken tops, and blistering. The most successful saguaros who can endure sporadic freezing temperatures are ones underneath desert trees called nurse trees. These nurse trees will protect the saguaros from cold temperatures, shade the saguaros when temperatures are too hot to handle, share resources from root systems, and become a defense from hungry wildlife. A special time of the year for saguaros is the late spring time when saguaros bloom their beautiful white flowers. Blooming earlier at the west district, flowers are spotted at the earliest at the end of March and the latest at the end of June at the east district. However, some singular flowers may be spotted throughout the year. The flowers will bloom in the late evening for attract night pollinators and will start to wilt the next day in the late afternoon. Once the flower is pollinated, the fruit is then produced and will burst open, showing off an explosive maroon color. Fruit will be ripe for the month of June to early July. The fruit is important food source to our wildlife and culturally special to the Tohono O'Odham Nation. The fruit signifies the start of the new year and ceremonial fruit harvest take place where the fruit is picked and produced syrup make different types of food and drink to last throughout the year.