White Wing Doves consume the seeds of this cactus? Learn more about the Saguaro cactus.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones.
9a (20 °F to 25 °F)
9b (25 °F to 30 °F)
10a (30 °F to 35 °F)
10b (35 °F to 40 °F)
11a (40 °F to 45 °F)
11b (45 °F to 50 °F)
- Extinct in Wild (EW)
- Critically Endangered (CR)
- Endangered (EN)
- Vulnerable (VU)
- Near Threatened (NT)
- Least Concern (LC)
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Nature’s water tower
Saguaro (sa-WAH-ro) are huge tree-like cacti found only in the Sonora Desert. They may reach 40-60 feet tall and live over a hundred years. White flowers bloom in the spring but only open at night. The Saguaro is pleated, and these expand with water after a rain. The pleats contract as the cactus uses the stored water during dry periods. The NC Zoo's Desert collection contains a legally wild collected (permitted) specimen of this plant.
- The largest cactus in the US is also the state flower of Arizona.
- Slow growing cactus, may be 75 years old before it grows an "arm" however; some never develop arms.
- Food source and drink for Native Americans.
- Pollinators include bats, insects and birds.
- White Wing Doves consumes the seeds.
