Captured in the McDowell Sonoran desert preserve in North Scottsdale AZ, this wide ratio image features a very old and multiple armed Saguaro cactus with vibrant sunrise skies and mountain backdrop.
Saguaros (Carnegiea gigantea) can live 150 to 200 years on average; some individuals exceed 200 years under ideal conditions.
They begin to grow arms (branches) around 50 to 70 years of age; timing depends on water availability and sunlight.
A saguaro reaches reproductive maturity at roughly 35 to 50 years, when it starts producing flowers and fruit.
Growth is very slow: in their first 10 years many saguaros are only 1–1.5 inches tall when growing in the desert, though faster on sheltered, wetter microsites.
Mortality causes include drought, freezing events, root rot from prolonged moisture, lightning, and damage from wind or animals; severe droughts can increase adult mortality.
Saguaros are protected by law in Arizona and it’s illegal to remove or harm them on state and federal lands, reflecting their long-lived ecological importance.
Captured in the McDowell Sonoran desert preserve in North Scottsdale AZ, this wide ratio image features a very old and multiple armed Saguaro cactus with vibrant sunrise skies and mountain backdrop.
Saguaros (Carnegiea gigantea) can live 150 to 200 years on average; some individuals exceed 200 years under ideal conditions.
They begin to grow arms (branches) around 50 to 70 years of age; timing depends on water availability and sunlight.
A saguaro reaches reproductive maturity at roughly 35 to 50 years, when it starts producing flowers and fruit.
Growth is very slow: in their first 10 years many saguaros are only 1–1.5 inches tall when growing in the desert, though faster on sheltered, wetter microsites.
Mortality causes include drought, freezing events, root rot from prolonged moisture, lightning, and damage from wind or animals; severe droughts can increase adult mortality.
Saguaros are protected by law in Arizona and it’s illegal to remove or harm them on state and federal lands, reflecting their long-lived ecological importance.
Image Dimensions: 8500 x 5181 px
Location: North Scottsdale, Arizona
Note: This image is exclusive to this site. © 2025 Ray Redstone
