A Saguaro Forest

Saguaros seem to grow randomly across the lower Sonora Desert, but each one has a history starting with an individual nursery plant. Conditions have to be just right for the relatively small saguaro seeds to sprout and the tiny plants must be protected from adverse conditions that might prevent their growth. In every case, the saguaro grows very near another plant, the nursery plant, that acts as a sun shield and helps the slow growing newly sprouted saguaro to grow. It is not uncommon for the saguaro to far outlive its nursery plant helper living more than 200 years. Stands of saguaros such as these, seem to grow mostly on the warmer south-facing hill sides. The distribution of all plants depends on moisture, soil conditions and temperature. Saguaros are no exception. They do not grow over about 3000 feet in elevation because of the possibility of hard freezes. The cactus is usually found on gravelly slopes or rocky ridges. Despite the advertising and cartoon association of saguaros with deserts around the world, they are only found in the Lower Sonoran Zone of the deserts in certain parts of Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico. There are a few specimens along the Colorado River in California.