A reader recently asked, “What is that thing in your blog header? Some sort of plant or what?”
A while back, someone left a comment about the “pine tree” in my blog header and said it didn’t make sense for a Phoenix real estate blog to have a pine tree graphic.
Maybe I’ve been living in Arizona too long, but I thought it was obvious the stylized graphic represents Carnegiea gigantea — the Saguaro cactus.
The saguaro (pronounced sah-wha-roh) is native to, and grows exclusively in part of the Sonoran desert. Perhaps that is why some don’t recognize it — a lot of folks have never seen a saguaro in the wild.
These things get huge. Here’s a photo of me, six feet tall, standing next to a mature Saguaro:
This guy (the cactus, not me) is probably around 125 years old (scientists think they may live up to 200 years) and would weigh close to 10,000 pounds. The “arms” usually appear on cacti that are around 75 years old. This saguaro is roughly 30 feet tall, there are some out there over 50 feet and with 50 arms.
Contrary to popular belief, the saguaro is not endangered. They are very slow growing and extremely slow to propagate, so they are protected by Arizona law. It is illegal to damage, destroy or move a saguaro (you can get permits to transplant and harvest saguaro, but transplanting a specimen like this would be insanely expensive).
So the next time you see our little graphic in the blog header, think big giant Arizona saguaro cactus, not pine tree (though surprisingly to many, northern Arizona is home to reportedly the largest single stand of Ponderosa Pines in North America).
More info from Saguaro National Park.
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Robert Mickalson 11.04.07 at 5:36 pm
I thought it was pretty obvious that it was a cactus, though I wouldn’t know a cactus name from a grass name. Maybe move the word “Real” off of the Cactus graphic, and it might be mroe clear to the confused. Hey, now I know where one of the thousands of street names in my area came from! (Saguaro St, in Castaic).
Kristal Kraft 11.04.07 at 7:18 pm
Saguaro are really cool. I rode my bike down the Mexican Baja, for days we passed these creatures, who I started to give names. They looked like people after 3 weeks on a bike.
Could it have been too much sun on the helmet?
kk
P.S. you need not answer that.
Scoot 11.05.07 at 8:29 am
Arizona is a very diverse climate. I used to love it in the winter time while driving truck, and coming off “the hill” into Phoenix. You would go from 4 feet of snow in the ponderosa pines down to rain in the saguaros. In the desert where you only needed a long sleeve shirt. I love how the desert smells during and after a rain.
Candace Robinson 11.05.07 at 9:50 am
Jay — being in Phoenix, it was pretty obvious to me too! I have had some tell me they have never seen a cactus and often times when I have out of town folk visiting, we make it a point to hit the desert and take such a photo as you have. Love the header by the way, simple, clean and effective!!
ChicoHomeSearch.net- Sandi Bauman 11.05.07 at 10:23 am
Jay, for what it’s worth, I also knew what it was right away, and I don’t live anywhere near a cactus! Your explanation made for interesting reading
Arizona Real Estate Rick 11.05.07 at 2:06 pm
LOL! I guess as a fellow Arizonian I immediately recognized the Saguaro. I’ve even thought to myself, in the past, how much I like your graphic!! Great pic of you and the Saguaro, without you standing next to it… it wouldn’t have done as much justice to the size of these beautiful plants.
Athol Kay 11.05.07 at 4:48 pm
That’s a funny looking pine tree and the gnome standing next it looks angry.
Eric Bramlett 11.05.07 at 7:41 pm
Man those things get big! I definitely recognized the graphic, but I had no idea they would get that HUGE.
Radar Detector 11.05.07 at 8:47 pm
Another wonder of nature. Is it possible for this plant to grow in other regions of the world aside from Arizona?
Phoenix Homes 11.05.07 at 9:18 pm
Looks like a pine tree to me.
Jay - The Phoenix Real Estate Guy 11.06.07 at 5:54 am
“Is it possible for this plant to grow in other regions of the world aside from Arizona?”
Possibly. They do not tolerate frost well at all (more than 20 hours below freezing will kill them) and they rarely grow above 4,000 feet in elevation. Most “home grown” saguaro are grossly over watered leading to them falling over before the roots can be established.
You see baby saguaro sold occasionally, but they grow very slowly (1 to 1.5 inches a year) and take 35 years to flower, so make for a pretty boring houseplant.
Dining Room Set 11.06.07 at 8:03 am
I was unable to get to your blog yesterday and hope that I am able to today. I really thought that the graphics depicted termite on old walls! How silly of me? In the comic strip Charlie Brown, Snoopy’s brother in the desert keeps talking to such a cactus and it should have rung a bell!
ARDELL 11.06.07 at 10:13 am
I had to come by to figure out where Athol was coming up with the angry gnome part on his blog. Speaking from Bellevue, WA, the land of never ending pine trees, that ain’t no pine tree.
Athol Kay 11.06.07 at 10:47 am
Notice how Ardell didn’t argue the gnome part.
poke poke poke respond Jay respond…
Jay - The Phoenix Real Estate Guy 11.06.07 at 11:12 am
Who’s poking me?
A GNOME? Well, I suppose I do look rather gnomish standing next to that thing. And though I wasn’t angry, I sorta look that way.
It was the bright sunshine shining in my face, making me squint. People in Connecticut and Washington state probably can’t relate to bright sunshiny November days…
Athol Kay 11.06.07 at 12:25 pm
Yay a response!
Now I can go troll somewhere else…
Albuquerque Homes 11.06.07 at 6:46 pm
Jay - I have seen plenty of pine trees and that ain’t no pine tree. My first thought was “those big cactus with arms” I never can remember their name. But I do know they ain’t a pine tree! - Ashley
Pensacola Real Estate News 11.08.07 at 1:49 pm
I used to think Pine trees were really nice. Then I realized that they easily break in hurricanes and fall on my houses. Now I cut them down if they are near my house. I would never have mistaken your cactus for a pine tree. I think the cactus look really cool. I’ve never actually been to Arizona, but I would love to see one up close.
Jay Elliott 03.29.08 at 11:17 am
Cool graphic. Just spent a weekend in the desert and enjoyed the sun and golf. What is the cactus that is used for Prickly Pear Margarita’s?
Jon Griffith 05.27.08 at 2:32 pm
Jay, that cactus has been known to eat people alive when they’re not looking. I think I’ve actually seen it devour a car once.
Jay - The Phoenix Real Estate Guy 05.27.08 at 5:09 pm
@Jay (and sorry for the delayed response!) The cactus used for prickly pear margaritas is, brace yourself, prickly pear. That’s the name of the cactus — prickly pear (actually, I believe they use the fruit, though the “pads” are edible too).
@Jon - I wouldn’t want to hit one of those things in a car… they’ve got really shallow roots, but 10,000 pounds is 10,000 pounds. And if it fell the wrong way…