Saguaro
Carnegiea gigantea · Cactaceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around saguaro and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Family
- Cactaceae
- Origin
- Sonoran Desert (Arizona, Mexico)
- Adult size
- 12 to 18 m tall, 3 to 4 m wide
- Growth
- Very slow (1 to 2 cm per year)
- Flowering
- May to June, white flowers
- Hardiness
- Occasional frosts tolerated down to -5 °C
- Soil type
- Sandy, very well-draining, poor
- Foliage
- Absent (green succulent stems)
Care
Watering
Water moderately during the growing season (spring-summer), every 15 to 20 days. In autumn and winter, drastically reduce watering to let the soil dry completely. Excess water is the saguaro's main enemy.
Light Exposure
Place your saguaro in direct full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours per day. This is a desert plant that requires maximum light to develop well and flower properly. Avoid partial shade.
Soil and Substrate
Use a very well-draining mixture based on cactus soil enriched with coarse sand and gravel. The pH should remain neutral to slightly alkaline. Make sure your pot has drainage holes.
Fertilizing
Fertilize moderately with a low-nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus-rich fertilizer, just once a month during the growing season. Stop all feeding in autumn-winter.
Pruning and Maintenance
No pruning is necessary. Simply remove any rotten or damaged parts with a sterilized tool. The saguaro naturally structures its form in columns and arms without any intervention.
Diseases and Pests
Watch for root rot (caused by excess moisture). Mealybugs and spider mites can occasionally attack. Treat quickly using appropriate methods and improve air circulation.
Did you know?
The saguaro is an iconic symbol of the Sonoran Desert and can live over 150 years. The cream-white flowers bloom exclusively at night and are pollinated by bats and hummingbirds. In Arizona, this species is protected by law: it is illegal to harvest or damage it in the wild.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring, once all risk of frost has gone. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from April to June.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.