Cactus tree! 🌵 Where to find?

25 comments

1. Saguaro National Park in AZ

2. Are you specifically referring to the [saguaro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saguaro)? In the US these only grow in Arizona between the Mexican border and Phoenix. There are no saguaros in Flagstaff or at the Grand Canyon. There are easily accessible areas with abundant saguaros in Phoenix and Tucson. You can also find the impressive [organ pipe cactus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stenocereus_thurberi) in more limited parts of Arizona.

3. Saguaro cacti, the big ones you usually associate with the desert, are mainly in southern Arizona. But different kinds grow all over the deserts in the southwest.

4. Haha they aren’t trees. But come to the southwest and you’ll see plenty of them

5. Phoenix metro area here. We have them all over here, try the Desert Botanical Garden

6. When you are in Arizona, I recommend you try eating some cactus!

   The Cactus Candy Company is based out of Pheonix, Arizona and makes a candy from the fruit of the prickly pear cactus- which produces a sweet pink fruit.

   In the grocery store or on a restaurant menu (usually a Mexican restaurant) you can eat nopales – which is the prepared green “paddles” of the prickly pear cactus. They remind me of a green bean combined with okra. They’re delicious.

7. Come to the Phoenix and you will see plenty. If you come in summer make sure you take care if you go on a hike to see them, it gets very hot so you want to keep yourself hydrated.

8. Like others have said, you definitely want Saguaro National Park. But to get there, you’ll fly into Phoenix, and while you’re there I recommend taking a day to explore the [Desert Botanical Garden](https://dbg.org/), which has beautiful desert plants from all over the Southwest and other desert areas, including *many* kinds of cactus, and guided tours. I used to go like at least once a month, because it’s a really peaceful place and the plants are incredible.

9. Like others have said, saguaros are only found in southern Arizona. But there’s a lot of other cacti found throughout the Western states, such as barrel and prickly pear.

10. Well others have already told you where to go, make sure you try cactus fruit while you’re there. They’re in season from July to October.

11. They’re so ubiquitous around here I didn’t even know there was a “Saguaro National Park”.

    They’re just everywhere I look lol

12. Saguaro National Park west has great cacti! In the eastern part many of the saguaros have migrated from where they were 40 years ago plus. However the biggest, most beautiful saguaros I have ever seen are in the eastern park on the Loma Linda trail (I thinks that’s what it’s called). It’s East of the Tanqueverde ridge trail It’s an easy hike and so spectacular!

13. Not the specific cactus you’re asking about, but Joshua Tree National Park in California is pretty cool too.[There’s a cool airstream hotel chain there now too.](https://autocamp.com/joshua-tree/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyqSk8bzO9gIVuT6tBh0Y9Q7pEAAYAiAAEgJdXfD_BwE)

    And the high desert of Southern Utah is beautiful. Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, etc.

14. Are you a fan of Sergio Leone, by chance?

15. It’s not cacti but if you like desert landscapes, check out the Painted Desert! It’s a national park with beautiful, naturally-colored sand for miles and miles. I think it’s in AZ, like the saguaros. Might be a fun side trip.

16. Phoenix, they are everywhere

17. If you have a green thumb you can grow some cactuses yourself! I have many and I’ve failed at even more of them.

18. Cacti grow throughout the U.S. but the one you are probably most familiar with grow in a small part of Arizona that others have mentioned. For example Prickly Pear cacti are a native plant in Kentucky.

19. If you are going to Arizona, check out the Petrified Forest National Park. Short tree stubs petrified to stone. Beautiful and a one of a kind experience. We saw the Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, Meteor Crater, and Grand Canyon in three days. Saw tons of cacti along the way.

20. Then while you are at it, visit Organ Pipe National Monument, also in Arizona.

    [organ pipe cactus.](https://www.nps.gov/orpi/index.htm)

21. Shoutout from Tucson! They’re everywhere here. There are several on our property. They grow on the side of the roads and in the medians. In addition to the recommendation of Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon and Catalina State Park are nice areas nearby to check out the desert scenery including saguaros. November through February will be the most comfortable outside, and really it’s pretty hot outside except in December and January. Someone already mentioned the monsoon season which is really stunning and usually the best mid-July through mid-august.

22. You said other places too so [Joshua Tree](https://www.joshuatree.org) in California.

    These places have very strict and specific rules for camping.

23. Are you talking about Joshua Trees? Joshua Tree National Park in California is full of em

24. Im from Phoenix, Arizona. Saguaro national park and Tucson in general are 100% worth a visit, but in reality most of central and southern Arizona and Sonora Mexico feature breathtaking views of the Sonoran desert. Also recommend visiting the Sonoran desert museum near Tucson as well. I’m biased because I’m from Arizona, but I live halfway across the world now and still believe Arizona is one of the most beautiful places in world. Just don’t visit in July or August unless you enjoy 45C-50C

25. Sonoran desert.