Arizona's State Flower: The Incredible Saguaro Cactus Flower
Right before the summer heat and sun settles in, Southern Arizona experiences one of its best seasons – Saguaro Cactus Blooming Season! These incredible white blossoms are Arizona’s state flower and are definitely one of the more interesting state flowers in the United States!
About Saguaro Cacti
Saguaro cacti are more than just an iconic symbol of our region – they’re a fruit-bearing plant, providing resources to wildlife and indigenous peoples alike for thousands of years. The white flowers that burst forth from them each May are necessary for the cacti to produce that fruit.
The scientific name for the saguaro cactus is Carnegiea gigantea, in honor of Andrew Carnegie. The billionaire businessman and philanthropist was a supporter of botanical research. He initially didn’t want the giant cactus named in his honor, but he eventually relented, and the name was made official after his death.
Before we go much further, we should make sure you know how to say “saguaro” correctly. It’s pronounced “suh-WAR-oh”. Once you get that right, you’ll fit right in with the locals!
Peak Blooming Season
During peak blooming season, which happens in May, each white flower opens and closes within about 24 hours. A single cactus may be covered with scores of blooms, looking like fingertips on the cactus’s arms!
The flowers are pollinated by birds, bees, and bats, and are distributed like trees: they can either be found all alone, or in a dense concentration as if in a forest, in places like Saguaro National Park. The largest concentrations are typically found on the slopes of mountains and hills.Numerous blooms open each day on each cactus, creating an exotic display unique to the Sonoran Desert. Saguaro flowers start to bloom in the first week of May, and continue through the first week of June. While you’re there, you can also see several other cactus flowers blooming, including the yellow flowers of prickly pears and the pink flowers of hedgehog cacti.
Learn about the Saguaro Flower Power Project at Saguaro National Park here.
Harvesting of Saguaro Fruit
Stick around, because June is when the delicate white blossoms that’ve been pollinated develop into ruby-red fruits. The fruits are eaten by birds and bats, as well as dedicated people who harvest them at the peak of the summer heat, just a few weeks before the monsoon rains arrive.
Saguaro fruit harvesting is a tradition that has been practiced for thousands of years by the Indigenous peoples of the Sonoran Desert, which continues to this day. The fruits are gently knocked off the cactus with a special pole that is traditionally made from saguaro cactus ribs. The ribs are a hard, sturdy wood and are used for roofing support material, rafters, fences, walls, and furniture.
The fruits are cooked and strained into a fine, thick syrup, with sugar added for preservation. The sugar can be used as-is, or made into jam. The flavor is similar to plum and raspberry, with deeper textures and flavors.
Although the fruit is not commercially produced, you can occasionally find it at farmers markets and on menus at local restaurants.
Where to See Saguaro Cactus Flowers
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9251 W. Twin Peaks Road Marana, AZ 85743 (520) 297-0252 Website
We are lucky to have one of the nation’s most treasured parks, Saguaro National Park, right in our backyard. Saguaro National Park consists of two distinctly different parks, located within two different mountain ranges that are on opposite sides of Tucson, Arizona. Marana is closest to Saguaro National Park West and the eastern side of the park is located just one hour away by car.
6250 W Moore Road Marana, AZ 85658 (520) 382-1950 Website
Taking its name from one of the longest living trees in the Arizona desert, the Ironwood Forest National Monument is a true Sonoran Desert showcase. Keeping company with the ironwood trees are mesquite, paloverde, creosote, and saguaro. The Silver Bell, Waterman and Sawtooth are rugged mountain ranges, from 1,800 to more than 4,200 feet in elevation. Desert valleys filled with diverse wildlife, such as pronghorn and mule deer, complete the setting.