Saguaro Cactus or (Carnegiea gigantea) is a big species of cacti and one of the most exalted cacti found in the world.

*All the sources are listed at the end of the article

Quick facts

These are all the facts you need to know about Saguaro Cactus

#1. Saguaro Cactus are the largest species of cacti in the U.S., they can grow up to 40 feet or 12 meters tall.

#2. A Saguaro Cactus can live up to 100 to 200 years but still, this is cannot be said in confidence because many largest individuals of this species still need research to back this data up.

Kevin Hultine, a plant physiologist at Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden said,

We are not entirely sure of the true age of some of the largest individuals

#3. The scientific name of this cactus is given in honor of Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish-American industrialist.

#4. They are found only in the Mexican State of Sonora, the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, and the Whipple Mountains and Imperial County areas of California.

#5. These big Saguaros can weigh more than a ton (2000 pounds). So if you are planning a trip to Arizona stay very cautious.

#6. The birds which are native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona like Gila  woodpeckers, purple martins, house finches, and gilded flickers make their nests in these giant cacti by carving out holes in the plant. These birds then wait several months before moving in, because cactus takes time to dry and create a solid casing around the cavity.

#7. Arizona’s state flower is none other than saguaros bloom.

#8. Saguaros woody ribs are a very useful part of the plant because if a saguaro cactus dies, these ribs can be used to build fences, roofs, and parts of furniture.

#9. Saguaro cactuses are very slow in growing, they take so much time that even after plentiful rain these cactuses will grow only 1.5 to 2 inches tall in 10 years.

#10. Saguaros grow ruby red fruit in summer and white flower in the late spring and are also covered with protective spines. you guys need to try this fruit, you will definitely fell in love.

#11. Native Americans used cactus boots taken from dead saguaros as water containers long before the canteen was available.

#12. Just as saguaros ribs, its spines are also useful as they can be used to make sewing needles.

#13. The saguaro cactus is often used in commercial as an emblem to convey a sense of the Southwest, even if the product or service has no connection to Arizona or the Sonoran Desert.

#14. The native American tribe Tohono O’odham uses saguaros for shelter and an important source of food. The Tohono O’odham tribe celebrates with a fermented drink made from the ruby red fruit to summon rain at the beginning of their summer growing season.

#15. There are strict rules and regulations in Arizona against the harvesting, collection or destruction of this species. You can also expect some time behind bars if you try to do anything mentioned.

Sources

Wikipedia.org

desertmuseum.org

sciencefriday.com