Walking through the Sonoran desert in the spring and summertime, we find ourselves asking aloud, “how is this real?” The sight of the desert exhaling a colorful breath of life gives way for a still moment of awe and wonder. We did a little digging to understand these beautiful plants better and we’re so excited to share what we learned with you!
At the inn, you’ll find Hedgehog, Pincushion, Cholla, Torch, Prickly Pear, Saguaro, and Barrel Cacti putting on a spectacle in the spring and summer months. Along with living in the desert together, they all have CAM (crassulaceaen acid metabolism) photosynthesis in common. Meaning they’re moonlight breathers and daylight photosynthesizers. They open their stomata (pores) at night to breathe in carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is then stored as an acid until day breaks and they photosynthesize the acid into sugar (food) they consume.
Cactus blossoms are the epitome of growing with intention. Of resilience. Of protecting our very essence through it all.
Hedgehog Cactus blooms March to May
The hedgehog cactus opens the desert bloom show with hot pink blossoms that dazzle for 1-3 days. They grow in clumps to shield themselves from the climate. The dense spines they wear graciously not only protect them from hungry herbivores, they reduce evaporation which helps them maintain moisture. The hedgehog cactus has vertical ribs which expand when it rains to store water and they contract during dry spells. After flowering, they produce fruit which is often referred to as cactus strawberries.
Pincushion Cactus blooms March to May
The pincushion cactus adorns itself with a halo of striking magenta, pale pink, white, yellow or light red blossoms for 1-2 days. Once the flowers have been pollinated, a refreshed halo of fruit appears resembling mini red chilis. They grow close to the ground and compact with spines around their bodies to protect themselves from herbivores. The spines double as shade cover from the sunny days to help preserve moisture. They develop a waxy coat on their exterior which is akin to our sunscreen. When it rains, the interior is like a sponge absorbing and storing the water.
Cholla Cactus blooms April to June
The cholla cactus blooms will greet you in shades of yellow, pink, purple or orange and sometimes the entire pallet is present on one single cholla cactus. It coats itself in a waxy layer which acts as sunscreen to help with water retention. When it rains, each segment of growth fills with water creating multiple water reservoirs for dry spells. Each segment is easily detachable and if one falls off it can create a whole new plant.
Torch Cactus blooms April to June
The large 4-6 inch torch cactus blossom shines for a mere 24 hours. It grows in a way that allows it to reach for sunlight to better photosynthesize while allowing for water drainage during monsoon season to prevent root rot. They have a waxy coat (sunscreen) to prevent water evaporation. When rains come, the inside is like a sponge full of water and it stores it for as long as possible.
Prickly Pear Cactus blooms April to June
Each bloom you witness on the prickly pear cactus is flowering for just one day and changing shades as the hours progress. You may see it a bright yellow at dawn but by dusk it’s a peachy pastel. The iconic paddle is multifunctional. It captures water during rainfall and stores it in sponge-like flesh to be distributed as needed. If it detaches from the prickly pear it would start a brand new growth to further its chances of desert survival.
Saguaro Cactus blooms May to June
Arizona’s state flower blossoms for the evening stars and wraps up its moment near afternoon. Each bloom lasts 18 hours. It supports both evening pollinators including bats and daytime pollinators such as bees, hummingbirds and moths. You’re most likely to spot them early in the day. When the flowers are done blooming by the end of June, the Saguaro produces edible red fleshy fruit. The saguaro waits to bloom until it’s developed a strong root system and built enough strength in its body around the age of 35. By 75 it grows its first arm. The ribs of the saguaro are vertical and expand like an accordion when the desert receives rain. In its stunning 40 feet, it’s capable of storing hundreds of gallons of water. If a rain barrel were a plant, it’d be a saguaro.
Barrel Cactus blooms July to September
The bright yellow, orange or red flower crown of the barrel cactus is attracting pollinators for 1-2 days. Once they’re done flowering, they produce fruit that resembles mini pineapples. They grow round and low to the ground which reduces their surface area minimizing sun exposure. When the desert rains happen, the vertical ribs on the barrel cactus expand storing as much water as possible.
We hope you’ll book a stay with us when the desert is blooming sometime between March and September to experience the presence of a cactus bloom.
