The cactus (cacti for plural) is one of the most unique plants in the world. It’s also one of the most valuable and recognizable pieces of the beautiful Arizona landscape. In this article, we will discuss various types of Arizona desert cactus including the jumping cholla, prickly pear, Saguaro, barrel cactus, so let’s get into it.
Table of Contents
How Many Different Types Of Cactus Are There In Arizona?
Arizona consists of high-desert and cold mountains as well as subtropical desert lowlands.
Each landscape offers a habitat for different types of cacti (Cactaceae family). The native cactus of Arizona differ greatly in looks. However, they’ve all developed similar features such as defensive spines, water-retentive tissue, and efficient root system to survive and thrive in different harsh conditions.
Pima County is home to 51 species so that’s where you’ll find the most desert cactus variety. Below, we’ll discuss some of the most common cacti found in Arizona.
Prickly pear
The prickly pear covers different species of the Opuntia genus in the North American deserts.
They all have flat and fleshy pads that resemble large leaves but they’re actually altered stems or branches that serve different functions including photosynthesis, water storage, and flower production. The genus also includes the Chollas, however, they feature jointed cylindrical stems instead of flat and flashy pads.
Most chollas and prickly pears have big spines like other cacti, but they’re altered leaves that grow from small, wart-like projections known as tubercles on their stems.
They’re called glochids and you can find them above the cluster of ordinary spines. They’re red or yellow in color and separate easily from the pads. Once lodged in the skin, they’re harder to remove and harder to see. However, what we love most about the prickly pear cacti is their distinctive, recognizable shape.
They feature balloon-shaped pads and they look almost flat. The best part? You can also eat their fruits raw or drink prickly pear syrup. It’s rich in vitamin B, fiber, amino acids, magnesium, and iron. The fruits taste amazing! However, make sure to remove the dangerous spines before you consume them raw.
In our opinion, the fruits of these cacti taste better after they’ve been turned into wine or candy.
Saguaro
You can find the Saguaro cactus in the Sonoran desert only. It’s a very special cactus that can live for as long as two centuries. The crazy part? It weighs about 6 tons and doesn’t produce any branches until it’s 50 years old. The Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) belongs to the Carnegiea genus.
It’s a tree-like cactus that can develop up to 40 feet tall. Furthermore, the flower of this popular cactus is the state flower of Arizona. The reason why we have so much respect for this unique-looking cactus is that it’s a home to different living creatures such as the house sparrow and other types of birds.
Also, we consider Saguaro as a symbol of longevity because as we mentioned, it has a long lifespan of 200 years. Some Saguaros never grow arms while others develop their first arm around 75-100 years of age. These arms grow to increase the reproductive capacity of the Saguaro cactus.
Another interesting fact about this plant is that it can take in and preserve large amounts of rainwater. It also visually expands during the process and utilizes the preserved water slowly as required. This is how the impressive cactus manages to survive for two centuries and handle periods of drought.
Aside from providing shelter to different species, including people, for thousands of years, animals and people also feed off this cactus. It produces red-fleshed and sweet fruits that native people such as the Pima and Tohono Oʼodham turn into syrup. They also use the ribs of the Saguaro cactus as building materials.
Barrel cactus
The Kroenleinia grusonii or Echinocactus grusonii, also known as golden barrel cactus, mother-in-law’s cushion, or golden ball, is very popular, rare, and endangered in nature.
Besides Tucson, AZ, you can also find this plant in volcanic rock on slopes at altitudes about 4,600 feet in the state of Hidalgo and Querétaro, Mexico. However, since the creation of the reservoir in Hidalgo and the Zimapán Dam, the population of this unique cactus was critically decreased in the 90s.
These circular cacti can live for as long as 130 years. It’s the ideal type of cactus for desert gardeners and cacti lovers who prefer low-maintenance, fast-growing cacti.
What’s interesting about this plant is that it often leans towards the southwest, so you can use it as a compass of sorts.
Actually, it’s often referred to as the “compass cactus”. The flesh of this cactus is candied and consumed as a treat in Mexico. It’s relatively easy to grow and take care of.
Jumping cholla
You don’t mess with the Jumping Cholla. It’s also known as Teddy Bear Cholla. However, there’s nothing cuddly about this cactus, so please keep your distance because it can “jump” onto you.
Despite popular belief, this cactus doesn’t really jump. It releases the branches and spines as a self-defense method when something or someone gets too close to it, so it’s better to admire this cactus from afar.
Otherwise, you can end up with some spines in your skin. They look furry but they’re painful to remove. Overall, Cylindropuntia fulgida, also known as the hanging chain cholla, is a unique cactus.
Final Verdict
There’s a wide selection of desert plants in Arizona. It’s the home of very beautiful cacti that survive and thrive in even the harshest of conditions. They’re very strong plants that can live for centuries with the help of the distinctive features that they’ve developed over the years.
What’s your favorite type of Arizona desert cactus? we’ve only mentioned a few in this article, but you can share more facts about other cacti in the comments down below! Let’s chat and learn more about these divine plants that not only embellish the Arizona landscape but also keep the wildlife well-fed.