Saguaro cactus blossoms; the state flower of Arizona. Photo by Rael B on Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / share alike. All State Flowers
Official State Flower of Arizona
The pure white waxy blossom of the giant saguaro cactus was designated the state flower of Arizona in 1931. All State Flowers
The giant saguaro cactus (Cereus giganteus) is indigenous to Arizona; it grows to a height of forty to fifty feet and lives to an age of 150 to 200 years.
Native to the Sonoran Desert in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, saguaros (pronounced "sah-wah-roh") are slow-growing and take up to 75 years to develop a side shoot. They are also slow at propagating, and the giant saguaro cactus is a candidate for the endangered species list.
Harming a saguaro cactus in any manner is illegal in Arizona, and during construction projects, special precautions must be taken to move every saguaro affected.
