Last Modified 2020-02-21
Crested Saguaros
   
  Crested Saguaros
   
 

The Crested Saguaro cactus, also referred to as a fan-top cactus, is classified under Arizona law as a highly safeguarded protected native plant. According to Arizona law, it is unlawful to "destroy, dig up, mutilate, collect, cut, harvest, or take any living highly safeguarded native plant."

Some cactus specialists believe that only one saguaro out of perhaps 150,000 develop crests, according to forest officials.

I have a book on Arizona Cactus that states the cause of the Crested Saguaro is still unknown.

  
 
  On the Florence-Kelvin Highway towards the Florence end
   
 
  Close-up of the above photo
   
 
  Found on the Silver Bell Mine Road
   
 
  Close-up of the above photo
   
 
  Found on a road near Young, Arizona
   
 
  Close-up of the above photo
   
 
  Looks like this Saguaro started out to become a Crested Saguaro, but went awry somehow. Maybe a broccoli top? This one is found on the Lost GoldmineTtrail east of the Hieroglyphics Trailhead.  
   
 
  This one is located just outside the entrance to the Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson
   
 
  This one is located on the East side of the Usery Pass Rd just before the 4-way stop at the junction with the Bush Hwy.
   
 
 

As the sign indicates, this one is found in the Ironwood Forest National Monument. It's on Sasco Road west of Red Rock exit on I-10 north of Tucson.

  
   
 
  Close-up of the above photo
   
 
  Beginning of a Crested Saguaro?
   
  We took the following four photos within a couple of hours on the Cactus Forest Trail within the Saguaro National Park-East and captured the fifth photo from the road just outside the park.  
 
  This is actually a Crested Barrel Cactus (our introduction to the fact that they exist). Nice catch Rita!
   
 
  A Saguaro that appears to be just beginning to exibit the crest (see closeup below).
   
 
  Close-up of the above photo.
   
 
  No doubt about this one. . .
   
 
  This is the one that can be seen from the road going north just outside of the Saguaro National Park-East.
   
 
  Another nice catch by Rita; this one is found at the entrance to the Arizonian RV Resort on Hwy 60 East of Gold Canyon.
   
 
  This one is on the West side of Hwy 85 a bit North of the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
   
 
  Different view of the one above.
   
 
  I can't remember where we found this one. . .
   
 
  We found this strange fellow on our Black Mesa hike.
   
 
  This one and the following one are also strange. We found these on our Picketpost-Loop hike.
   
 
   
  The following four photos of two Crested Saguaros were taken on the Arizona Trail going west from the Kelvin Bridge
 
   
 
  Close-up of the above photo
   
 
   
 
  Close-up of the above photo
   
 
  Found on North Thunderbird Drive just South of Superstition Blvd.
   
 
  Close-up of the above photo
   
 
  We found this on on the Goldfield Oven trail.
   
 
  Close-up of the above photo
   
 
  We found this old-timer on the west side of Hwy 79 south of Florence (around mile marker 112)
   
 
  Close-up of the above photo
   
 
  This one is off the Granite Mountain Long Loop Trail on the west side of the mountain
   
 
  Close-up of the above photo
   
 
  Found on the Coyote Canyon Trail in the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve.
   
 
  Close-up. . .
   
 
  Found on the Granite Mountain Loop Trail in the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve.
   
 
  Close-up. . .