Cardón

Pachycereus pringlei

Pachycereus pringlei photo © by Michael Plagens

This Feb. 1988 photo was taken in Baja California del Norte. There is a Harris' Hawk perched near the top of the cactus and this page's author is holding his infant daughter, Heather.

UNMISTAKABLE: The Cardón Cactus is massive. Unlike the Saguaro Cactus it branches freely from the base.

SPINE CLUSTERS: Up to three strong central spines with a corona of finer spines. Spine color is gray.

RANGE: Western Sonora and Baja California. Not found naturally in Arizona, but there are a few planted at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.

FLOWERS: Flowers with large white waxy petals are scattered along the top meter or so of each branch.

FRUIT: The reddish fruit is nearly spherical and covered with rather long straight spines.

Cactaceae -- Cactus Family

More Information:


Sonoran Desert Field Guide
Sonoran Desert Places
Sonoran Desert Naturalist Home Page


Copyright Michael J. Plagens, Page created 14 Maay 1999,
Updated 09 Mar. 2022.