Definition: A desert tree, the saguaro is a cactus. The Latin name is Carnegiea gigantea. It is found only in the Sonoran Desert of the Southwest U.S. and Mexico. It can grow up to 60 feet (18 meters) tall, making it the largest cactus in the United States. Some saguaros are estimated to be 200 years old. <br><br>
Saguaro flowers are white, and the cactus flowers in the spring. The fruit is edible. The fruits are a favorite with many birds. Bats also feed on the saguaro flowers and fruits. <br><br>
If you see a saguaro with holes in it (and the saguaro isn't located on a golf course) you are probably seeing a previous home of a Gila woodpecker, which creates nest holes seen in mature saguaro stems.
Pronunciation: suh-wah-ro
Also Known As: saguaro cactus
Alternate Spellings: sahuaro
