The crested saguaro cactus | Arizona’s majestic beauty

Posted By

Kevin Allard

March 21, 2020

Posted in

Adventures

The crested saguaro cactus is an attractive destination

Among the thousands of saguaro cactuses in Arizona, there are a few who stand out from the rest. Most humans give them no attention as we pass by daily. Maybe the saguaro blends in with the rest. Or perhaps they are just disregarded as a freak of nature.

Along our journeys through the backcountry, I often look for the intricate mass, odd formations, and strange shapes protruding from our wonderful Saguaro cactuses. Many people believe they are scarce. The truth is, if you look hard enough, you’ll find them everywhere.

The crested Saguaro cactus is a majestic beauty. Each cactus sports a unique shape and intricate formation. The cause of this strange growth is unknown. Some believe it’s a genetic defect, while others believe it is caused by lightning. Either way, these unique crested saguaros are among one of the rarest species of plants in the world. Said to be one in 1 million, the crest itself is a rarity that many don’t get to see.

Not one crested saguaro is the same. Although many have similar appearances, each crest has a mind of its own. Some fan out at the top resembling a head of broccoli. Others split in two like a fork and continue to grow arms. Those arms can Fork again, or develop a head of broccoli. You never know what the next crested saguaro is going to look like.

Kevin Allard

Kevin is a proud American outdoorsman with deep roots in Arizona’s rugged wilderness. Raised in the heart of rural Arizona, he spent his youth exploring the untamed backcountry alongside his father, igniting a lifelong passion for adventure and history. Today, Kevin continues that legacy with his son, journeying into Arizona’s most remote corners in search of forgotten trails and the stories of early western pioneers.

A staunch advocate for motorized access to public lands, Kevin combines his love for the outdoors with a dedication to stopping government overreach. His work has been featured in respected outlets like The Western Journal and 4Low Magazine, and he shares his adventures and advocacy through his platform, AZBackroads.com.

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