Carnegiea Cactus #01-2012H 03

Giant Saguaro, Carnegiea gigantea
Distribution  Sonoran deserts in the USA and Mexico

This shows the saguaro in context with neighboring plantings, including a dwarf century plant just right of center.

March 1, 2012
Arid Dome, Hidden Lake Gardens Conservatory
Carnegiea Cactus #01-2012H 02

Giant Saguaro, Carnegiea gigantea
Distribution  Sonoran deserts in the USA and Mexico

Saguaro spines, when they first form, grow rapidly, adding as much as several mm per day.  The actively growing spines are all at the top of a given spear or side branch.  Once new rings or aureoles of spines form, the older spines stop growing.

This individual has eleven vertical ridges of spines.  I have no idea whether this is typical or unusual; or whether all specimens of the species have this number.  I saw no sign of ridges merging or dividing as the spear increased in height.

March 1, 2012
Arid Dome, Hidden Lake Gardens Conservatory
Carnegiea Cactus #01-2012H 00

Giant Saguaro, Carnegiea gigantea
Distribution  Sonoran deserts in the USA and Mexico

March 1, 2012
Arid Dome, Hidden Lake Gardens Conservatory
Carnegiea Cactus #01-2012H 01

Giant Saguaro, Carnegiea gigantea
Distribution  Sonoran deserts in the USA and Mexico

Saguaro's are slow growing.  It takes about 75 years for an individual to mature enough to send out the side branches we all associate with this species.  I have no idea how old this individual is, but obviously much younger than 75 years old.  It's only a few feet tall, whereas cacti of this species have been known to reach heights of 45 feet.  They are also long lived, and believed to have life spans of around 150 years under good conditions.

March 1, 2012
Arid Dome, Hidden Lake Gardens Conservatory
Carnegiea Cactus #01-2012H 03

Giant Saguaro, Carnegiea gigantea
Distribution Sonoran deserts in the USA and Mexico

This shows the saguaro in context with neighboring plantings, including a dwarf century plant just right of center.

March 1, 2012
Arid Dome, Hidden Lake Gardens Conservatory
Carnegiea Cactus #01-2012H 03

Giant Saguaro, Carnegiea gigantea
Distribution  Sonoran deserts in the USA and Mexico

This shows the saguaro in context with neighboring plantings, including a dwarf century plant just right of center.

March 1, 2012
Arid Dome, Hidden Lake Gardens Conservatory
Carnegiea Cactus #01-2012H 03

Giant Saguaro, Carnegiea gigantea
Distribution Sonoran deserts in the USA and Mexico

This shows the saguaro in context with neighboring plantings, including a dwarf century plant just right of center.

March 1, 2012
Arid Dome, Hidden Lake Gardens Conservatory
See photo in original gallery.