All about the magnifcent and mighty saguaro

BY PAULA HUBBS

Just moved here and wondering what’s the story behind those soaring cacti that dot the Phoenix landscape? Read on…

On just about any drive around the Phoenix metro area, you’re bound to see statuesque saguaros stretching toward the sky. While they can be easily spotted on the city’s urban-mountain hillsides, some folks are lucky enough to have a prickly saguaro standing sentinel in their front yard — now that’s defnitely not something you see in the Midwest.

Massive yet slow-growing

Stunning size: At adulthood (about 125 years of age), these desert behemoths are massive — they can reach more than 50 feet tall and weigh several tons. However, they are superslow-growing, only gaining a few inches in height a year.

An army of arms: Although some saguaros don’t ever grow arms, they can grow as many as a whopping 50. But Mother Nature is pretty strict about when a saguaro can sprout these outstretched appendages; generally, arms won’t appear until a saguaro is at least 50 years old. In fact, in areas of low precipitation, it may take up to 100 years before arms appear. Tat takes some realdeal patience.

Long lifespan: Saguaros tend to live between 150 and 200 years so the desertdwellers we see today could tell quite a few stories, for sure.

Keeping them safe

With few exceptions, it is illegal in Arizona to damage or harm a saguaro. If a saguaro needs to be moved because of construction or some other reason, a permit is required to transport and replant these treasured desert giants.

Snippets about saguaros

•Te word saguaro originated in Ópata, a language spoken by peoples of the Sonoran Desert region of Mexico.

• Te saguaro blooms in springtime with colorful fowers on top of its spear and arms.

• In 1931, the saguaro blossom was designated the ofcial state fower of Arizona.

• Fruit from saguaros is used to make jams, syrup and wine.

Sources: azgovernor.gov; merriam-webster.com; nps.gov; visitphoenix.com