Life finds a way.
An example of natureβs resilience is on display in Catalina State Park, as flowers have started blooming atop the one remaining living arm of a giant saguaro that collapsed last year.
The saguaro, estimated to be around 200 years old, toppled in August 2022, drawing attention due to its advanced age, numerous arms and prominence along a popular trail.
A single arm remained upright even as the rest of the cactus lays nearby, decaying. And that arm is now in full bloom, showcasing vibrant flowers and even producing fruit, says Michelle Thompson, communications chief for Arizona State Parks and Trails.
βI think all of us were really surprised that that arm survived and that it was getting enough nutrients to flower and then produce fruit,β she said.
The phenomenon of life springing from decay is not unheard of among saguaros. Thompson mentioned instances where arms closer to the ground or at the base of a fallen cactus have managed to survive. However, the current situation, with a blooming arm high up on what appears to be a dead stump, is remarkable and has caught the attention of experts and nature enthusiasts.
This giant saguaro, dating to about the 1820s, stood in Catalina State Park until it collapsed in August 2022.
The giant saguaro fell along Romero Ruins Trail, making it highly visible to hikers and leading to its fame.
βAnyone who was hiking along the Romero Trail would be able to see it,β Thompson said. βI just think that helped share its notoriety, just people taking social media pictures and posting that. It was a stunner.β
There are other huge saguaros in the park of similar age and arm counts, but their locations make them less noticeable, Thompson said. Saguaros reaching the age of approximately 200 years are uncommon, and their sprawling arms add to their grandeur.
Another prominent Tucson-area saguaro that sported more than 30 individual arms and was estimated to be about 150 years old also collapsed last summer. Nicknamed Strong-Arm, it stood in Maranaβs Tortolita Preserve.
The famous Strong-Arm saguaro in the Tortolita Preserve collapsed Aug. 4. The tall saguaro lived in the Dove Mountain area in Marana. Based on its size and the growth rates of other saguaros in the Tucson area, Strong-Arm was probably 150 to 175 years old, according to Bill Peachey, a saguaro researcher.
Peachey said the cactus was killed by a runaway bacterial infection that probably started several years ago. Video produced by Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star. Additional footage by Henry Brean and sunset photo by Mark Johnson.
