Welcome to Cactus Art!

Saguaro, the desert giant (pronounced as "sa-WAH-ro"), is the largest cactus native in America. This giant cactus only grows in the Sonorant Desert of south-western and south-central Arizona and western Sonora in Mexico, as well as a few sites near the Colorado River in California.

They grow only about half an inch a year; but can grow to a height of 50 to 60 feet, and with record height of 78 feet. They only start to grow arms at about 12 feet in height or 40 to 80 years of age; however, some stay armless. Mostly made of water, each foot of a Saguaro weighs around 80 pounds. Its spines are actually leaves which are modified to guard and insulate the cactus. Saguaros can adapt to droughts but are intolerant of cold and a healthy Saguaro can live as long as two hundred years.

When Saguaro's National Monument in Arizona was designated in 1933, Saguaro became the first cactus ever to be protected in a national preserve.