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: Echinocereeae
Genus: Carnegiea
Flower
Color: White
Bloom Time: April to June
Description
Carnegiea gigantea is a tree-like cactus that grows up to 65 feet (20 m) tall. It is the largest columnar cactus native to the United States but is extremely slow-growing, reaching only 0.24 inches (0.6 cm) in height after two years. The ribbed stem can reach up to 2.5 feet (75 cm) in diameter. This cactus 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 it has reached a height of about 16.5 feet (5 m) and an age of 50 to 70 years.
The white flowers appear just below the top of the stem. They are up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) long and up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) in diameter. The red, fleshy edible fruits are up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) long. The Saguaro blossom is the State Wildflower of Arizona.
How to Grow and Care
Saguaro cactus needs to grow in well-drained grit and receive low water levels, with the soil drying out completely between irrigation. Annually fertilizing with cactus food in spring will help the plant complete its growth cycle. Common cactus pests, such as scale and mealybugs, will require manual or chemical controls. It is not legal to procure a Saguaro cactus for home cultivation by digging it out of the desert. Beyond that, mature Saguaro cactus plants almost always die when transplanted.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Saguaro Cactus.
Origin
Carnegiea gigantea is native to the Sonoran Desert in the United States state of Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, and the Whipple Mountains and Imperial County areas of California.
Links
- Back to genus Carnegiea
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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