Arizona’s iconic Saguaros respond to the seasons as do other Sonoran Desert plants, but they have a unique system for coping with desert heat and uneven moisture. During the rainy season their accordion-pleated sides expand to hold as much water as possible for the dry times ahead.
The expansion areas run between columns of spines
Once the desert temperatures reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the mature Saguaros begin to produce abundant waxy white flowers.
Blossoms crown the saguaro stem and arms
The Saguaro flowers open at night and are pollinated by bats, then birds and insects the next day.
Three-inch-long fruits quickly form where the flowers were.
Sometimes hungry birds accidentally knock the fruit from the cactus.
Birds peck open and eat the fruit.
The fleshy interior of the fruit is a rich red when ripe.
The largest cacti in the world come from these tiny unassuming seeds.
Why is Arizona so... 