Maureen Gilmer
Family
Cactaceae
Botanical Name
Carnegiea gigantea
Plant Common Name
Giant Saguaro
General Description
This enormous, branching, tree-like cactus is a favorite landscape plant in the deserts of the Southwest. Giant saguaro is native to the Sonoran Desert, from Arizona southward into Sonora, Mexico. In the wild, it is protected due to shrinking habitat and illegal wild-collection of native plants for garden cultivation. Sadly, most wild-collected plants quickly die because established, mature plants transplant poorly.
Giant saguaro columns feature up to thirty vertical ribs that act like an accordion, swelling in the summer rainy season then shrinking as moisture is lost during the annual winter drought. The vertical ridges are lined with aureoles armed with large, outward-facing spines. The giant saguaro is very slow growing. In fact, it can take 30 years for its leafless, columnar stems to attain a height of just three feet (1 meter). They will not branch nor bloom until at least 10 feet (3 meters) tall. Mature specimens produce hundreds of large, green and white, trumpet-shaped flowers clustered at the very top of the plant. The flowers are night-blooming and pollinated by insects, bats and even doves. Large, fleshy fruits follow. These are eaten by indigenous Native Americans and remain vital forage for birds and other wildlife.
Grow giant saguaro in full, hot sun and well-drained soil that’s sandy or gravelly. It grows best where winters are dry and summers bring regular thunderstorms, so a cool, dry winter season is essential for its success.
It is illegal to harvest saguaro cactus at any age from its wild habitat. Those legally collected from the wild often have small metallic tags which indicate the specimen’s point of origin. Seed-grown nursery stock is easy to come by in southwestern garden centers. Giant saguaro can be container grown if upgraded as needed and provided a substantial pot.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 10
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USDA Hardiness Zone
8 - 12
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Sunset Zone
12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21
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Plant Type
Cactus or Succulent
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun
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Height
20'-50' / 6.1m - 15.2m
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Width
5'-10' / 1.5m - 3.0m
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Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
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Native To
Southwestern United States, Mexico
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Growth Rate
Very Slow
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Water Requirements
Xeric/Desert, Drought Tolerant
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Habit
Upright/Erect
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White, Green
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Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
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Fruit Color
Red, Light Green
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Bark Color
Green
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
Yes
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
Yes
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Showy Foliage
No
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
Yes
