Album: Saguaro Bloom, Spring 2025

Sonoran Desert Network

In May 2025, Tucson, Arizona was full of saguaro blossoms. These cacti bloom counter-clockwise around the top of the cacti, starting on the east side of the crest before moving around to the north and then west. These creamy white flowers open during the night, just in time for saguaro pollinators (bats, birds, and insects) to enjoy them. What causes this cacophony of flowers is still being studied by scientists, though evidence indicates environmental stressors determine whether it is a large bloom year. Long-term natural resource monitoring by the Sonoran Desert Network and Saguaro National Park is critical for continuing to understand what impacts saguaros.