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The setting sun creates a stunning lightshow on Red Mountain and the Sonoran Desert near Phoenix, Arizona.

A closeup of a beautiful cactus garden in Phoenix, Arizona, USA on a sunny winter day

group of textured surface of red and green cactus flower in Aruba island

Spectacular sunset illuminates saguaro cacti near Windgate Pass in The McDowell Mountains

Scenic landscape with Saguaro Cactus in the Sonoran desert near Mesa, Arizona.

$The Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) is one of the iconic plants of the Sonoran Desert in Southern Arizona and Western Sonora, Mexico. These plants are large cacti that develop branches as they grow and mature. The branches generally bend upward but not always. The fluted trunks and branches of the saguaro are covered with protective spines. In the late spring the plant develops white flowers and red fruit forms in the summer.\n\nSaguaros are found only in the Sonoran Desert. To thrive they need water and the correct temperature. At higher elevations, the cold weather and frost can kill the saguaro. The Sonoran Desert experiences monsoon rains during July and August. This is when the saguaro obtains the moisture it needs to survive and thrive. These saguaro cacti were found in Catalina State Park near Tucson, Arizona, USA.$