Saguaro
Carnegiea gigantea
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Cactaceae
- Genus:
- Carnegiea
- Species:
- Carnegiea gigantea
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- More than 40 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may, jun
- Bloom Colors:
- White, Green
- Food Forest:
- Plant contains edible parts
Native Range
United States: Arizona, California
Host Plant for Caterpillars
fernald cactobrosis moth (Cactobrosis fernaldialis)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, low fertility soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to Sonoran Desert; adapted to arid conditions
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: None required
Establishment: Fruit is a fleshy red berry that contains up to 2500 seeds within the pulp. Seeds are black at maturity. Fruits are collected by hand when they are deep red in color and are easily plucked from the plant. C. gigantea is found in southern Arizona and northwestern Sonora, Mexico and sparsely near the lower Colorado River in California.
Source: npn.rngr.net