Saguaro
Saguaro
Shrub
The giant cactus of the Sonoran Desert, whose pleated stem swells to drink in the rain and can weigh several tonnes.
💡 Fun Facts
- This giant cactus can grow taller than three adults standing on each other's shoulders.
- Its pleated stem swells up like an accordion to store water when it finally rains.
- It grows so slowly it may not sprout its first 'arm' until it is 50 to 100 years old!
Name Story
Carnegiea gigantea
means “Carnegie's giant cactus”
What does its name mean?
- Carnegiea — Carnegie's plantnamed after Andrew Carnegie, an industrialist and philanthropist
- gigantea — giant, very largeLatin, from Greek gigas, 'giant'Decode this word →
The saguaro is named after Andrew Carnegie, who paid for the desert laboratory that studied it. Gigantea means 'giant' — and so it is, the largest cactus in the United States, living for up to 200 years.