Saguaro

Carnegiea gigantea

Cactaceae · perennial · introduced

Last updated March 8, 2026

Quick Facts

Height

50 ft

Growth Rate

Fast

Light

Full Sun

Soil

Adaptable

Water

Low

Hardiness

Zones 8b–9a

Bloom Time

early spring

Origin

extends throughout most of the Sonora Desert in Arizona

View full calendar (8 stages)

Stage	Typical Window	What to Look For
Bud break BBCH 07	Feb 15-Mar 15	Buds swelling and beginning to open; first green tissue visible
Leaf emergence BBCH 11	Mar 1-Apr 1	First leaves fully unfurled on new growth
Bloom start BBCH 61	Mar 1-Mar 31	First open flowers visible; flowers orange
Bloom end / petal fall BBCH 69	Apr 1-Apr 15	Last petals falling; flower structures fading
Fruit/seed development BBCH 71	Jun 1-Aug 31	Fruit or seed structures forming; fruit color: brown
Fruit/seed maturity BBCH 85	Sep 1-Nov 30	Fruit fully colored and ripened; seed dispersal may begin
Leaf drop BBCH 93	Oct 15-Nov 30	Leaves yellowing and dropping; no significant fall color display
Dormancy BBCH 97	Nov 15-Feb 28	Leafless; no active growth; dormant buds set

Data Maturity

Baseline Extension data. Expert review underway.