Carnegia gigantea
Saguaro · also Saguaro cactus, Sage of the desert, Giant cactus
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The saguaro is a tree-like cactus native to the Sonoran Desert, growing over 40 feet tall and living for hundreds of years. It is a keystone species, providing food and habitat for many, and is known for its ability to store water, making it highly drought-tolerant. Its large size and long lifespan make it a significant urban planting consideration.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 9733.7%—10 in
No city in this list records planting dates for this species, so age is blank throughout.
Traits
- Form
- Columnar
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Mature height
- 25–50 ft
- Canopy spread
- 3–10 ft
- Lifespan
- 150 years
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Water needs
- Low
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Wildlife value
- High
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May
Trunk diameters across every city: median 10 in, mean 12 in, 90th percentile 19 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Deserts & Xeric Shrublands
- Sonoran desert