D1131 Saguaro Cactus Gray Clouds Sunrise

A lone saguaro cactus stands vigil at sunrise, against a desert sky of gray clouds.

The saguaro cactus is a native of the Sonora Desert in Arizona. The species can grow to a height of 45 feet (13m) tall and can live for 150 years. It can take up to 75 years to develop a side arm. Although they grow only in a relatively small area of the Southwest United States, the saguaro cactus have become synonymous with the pioneers, cowboys and Native Americans of the 19th century Wild West.