Home & Garden

We posted that this is the first year that this cactus has had flower buds a while back and now the first two have opened on the same cactus. The (clickable) image above is a close up of one of the first two flowers now open.

From LEO AI:

The saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) is a iconic symbol of the American Southwest. Its flowers are a vibrant white color and bloom only at night, typically in May and June. The flowers are an important food source for various animals, including bats, hummingbirds, and bees. After pollination, the flowers develop into red, fleshy fruit that can take several years to ripen. The fruit is an important food source for desert animals, such as Gila woodpeckers and cactus wrens, which help disperse the seeds by consuming the fruit and then depositing the seeds in a new location.

The other two saguaros on the property are showing flower buds, so we should be getting lots of these beautiful flowers as we progress into May and June. We will likely post more flower photos as they pop up.

UPDATE 05/19/25: The flowers have kept coming and are far from being done at this time. Here’s another close-up of one of them:

And with it is a couple of new flower pictures.

Hedgehog flowers, also known as Echinocereus, are a captivating group of cacti native to the arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. These unique plants are characterized by their cylindrical stems and vibrant, tubular flowers that bloom in a stunning array of colors, including pink, red, yellow, and white. The flowers typically emerge in spring and attract various pollinators, including bees and hummingbirds, thanks to their bright hues and sweet nectar. Hedgehog flowers thrive in rocky, well-drained soils and are often found in desert landscapes, where they add a splash of color to the otherwise muted surroundings.

Flowers produced by the Palo Verde tree (Parkinsonia florida), are a striking feature of this iconic desert tree found primarily in the Sonoran Desert. The flowers are small, bright yellow, and grow in clusters, creating a stunning contrast against the tree’s green bark and foliage. Blooming in late spring to early summer, these flowers not only provide a beautiful display but also serve as an important food source for pollinators such as bees and butterflies. The Palo Verde tree is well-adapted to its arid environment, with deep roots that access groundwater, making it a vital component of the desert ecosystem and a popular choice for landscaping in dry regions.

Paragraphs authored by DUCK AI.

Red Torch or Cherry Red flowers opening this week in the courtyard. These have never disappointed us for the last nine years or so since we purchased and brought home this cereus cactus from a local nursery. There will be more other than these two over the next few days and perhaps weeks, judging from the buds seen on other cacti in our xeriscape garden. Click on the image to enlarge.

More about Trichocereus Grandiflorus:

Trichocereus Grandiflorus “Torch Cactus” is similar to many other cacti – it requires little water and likes partial to full sun. The latter means that it’s best to be kept outdoors.Besides, with some newer hybrids growing up to 1-2 feet tall and 12 inches wide, the Torch Cactus may be a too bulky cactus for indoor keeping.The Torch Cactus is more cold-resistant than the typical cactus – it can survive in temperatures as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit (-9.4 degrees Celsius). While it still won’t survive harsh winters, it can do pretty well in mildly cold areas if kept dry.

Three Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus engelmannii) flowers opened today on the little cactus by the mailbox. These have been reliably opening on various of the native cacti around the property ever since we arrived at our retirement paradise nearly fifteen years ago. Click on the image above to view enlarged.

It’s not a big deal in the Arizona Desert to see Saguaro Cacti with flower buds in the springtime, but this is a first for our transplanted Saguaro in the front yard; the local cactus farm planted this cactus in our yard thirteen years ago when the cactus was only about four feet tall. Now, it is thirteen feet tall and currently sporting, for the first time, numerous buds which will bring forth the gorgeous Saguaro blossoms in a few weeks.

We had one other cactus planted at the same time across the driveway to the west that has had a few buds over the last couple of years, but nowhere as numerous as this cactus, as can be seen in the image above. We will update the website with photos of the flowers when they become available. Click on the image to enlarge.