11 Interesting Facts About the Saguaro Cactus
There are over 2,000 species of cacti, but none more iconic than the mighty saguaro.
Pronounced suh-waa-roh, these cacti can stretch over 40 feet tall; the tallest one on record was 78 feet tall!
Saguaros are native to the Sonoran Desert, one of the four deserts in North America. The Sonoran Desert stretches from Sonora, Mexico, north into Arizona, and west into southeastern California.
And it’s the only place in the world where saguaros grow.
The indigenous people of the Sonoran Desert — native tribes such as the O’odham—believe the saguaros are their ancestors, returning to look after their people in the desert. For thousands of years, saguaros have been protected and revered.
Protection of the saguaro continues today with the Arizona Native Plant Protection Act. Damaging, destroying, or removing a saguaro is a class four felony. It’s punishable by fines and possible jail time.
Saguaros also share many traits with humans. Here are a few interesting facts about this iconic cactus.
1. Saguaros have their own DNA
Just like humans (and snowflakes), no two saguaros are the same. Each saguaro has its own DNA and growth…
