Crested Cactuses

The tall, columnar shape of the saguaro cactus is familiar to any desert traveler. But very rarely (perhaps only one plant in 100,000), a saguaro will grow with a fan-shaped crest of uncontrolled growth at the tip. These oddities of the plant kingdom are known as cristate (or crested) saguaros. The deformity also occurs in other species of cactus, such as the organ pipe. Science has not yet fully explained why this mutation occurs; perhaps it is caused by frost damage, although many other explanations have been offered. Whatever the cause, I find the swirling shapes strangely beautiful; here are photos of some of the crested cactuses I have come across in my desert travels.

If you know the exact location of any crested saguaros that are not shown here (GPS coordinates preferred but not essential), please write to me at the email address at the bottom of this page.

Click on each thumbnail to see a larger image.


Yavapai County, Arizona

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Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: July 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: July 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: July 2009.

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Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: July 2009.
This saguaro has the most "Y" splits (at least 14!) of any I've seen, but one of the arms in the back also exhibits a small crest so I am classifying it as cristate.


Tonto National Forest, Arizona

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Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2008.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2008.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2008.

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Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: April 2008.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: April 2008.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: April 2008.

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Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: April 2008.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: January 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2009.

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Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: April 2008.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: January 2009.
This is a rare "ring" crested saguaro, in which the crest grows in a ring around the tip of the saguaro.
This crest measures an amazing 9 feet across!                                                
This saguaro looks like it sustained damage, then continued growing as a crested nub.

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Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: April 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: May 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: May 2009.

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Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: May 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: May 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: May 2009.

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Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: May 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: May 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: August 2009.

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Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: August 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: August 2009.


Cave Creek Regional Park, Cave Creek, Arizona

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Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: June 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: June 2009.


Cave Creek, Arizona

bizarre_cristate2750_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate2751_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate2753_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: January 2010.


Carefree, Arizona

bizarre_cristate2063_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate2062_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: June 2009.


Desert Foothills Gardens Nursery, Cave Creek, Arizona

bizarre_cristate0188_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate0187_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2009.


Cactus Ranch Nursery, Morristown, Arizona

bizarre_cristate0602_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate0601_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: July 2009.


McDowell Mountain Regional Park, Arizona

bizarre_cristate0715_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate0694_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2009.


McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale, Arizona

bizarre_cristate9169_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate9167_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: November 2008.
This cristate saguaro was stolen from public lands, recovered from the cactus poachers, and moved here to the Preserve.


Scottsdale, Arizona

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Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: May 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: June 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: July 2009.


Fountain Hills, Arizona

bizarre_cristate9478_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate9479_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: November 2008.


Paradise Valley, Arizona

bizarre_cristate1660_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate1668_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: May 2009.


Mesa, Arizona

bizarre_cristate1421_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate1423_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: April 2009.


Phoenix, Arizona

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Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: June 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: June 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: June 2009.

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bizarre_cristate037_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate038_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: June 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: November 2008.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: November 2008.

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Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: December 2009.


Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona

bizarre_cristate4377_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate4379_s.jpg
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bizarre_cristate5520_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate5516_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: April 2008.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: April 2008.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: April 2008.

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Various species of cristate cactus in the Sybil B. Harrington Cactus Gallery.
Last visited: April 2008.


Superstition Mountain Museum, Apache Junction, Arizona

bizarre_cristate5137_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate5139_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2008.


Apache Junction, Arizona

bizarre_cristate1559_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate1558_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: April 2009.


Queen Valley, Arizona

bizarre_cristate1309_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate1306_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: April 2009.


San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Arizona

bizarre_cristate4331_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate4334_s.jpg
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bizarre_cristate0033_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate0036_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: February 2008.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: February 2008.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: June 2009.
                                                                                                                 
Only one arm of this saguaro exhibited a crested shape, but the entire main trunk shows irregular patterning.
                                                                                                                 


Tortolita Mountains, Arizona

bizarre_cristateIMG_1925_s.jpg   bizarre_cristateIMG_1931_s.jpg
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bizarre_cristateIMG_1943_s.jpg    bizarre_cristateIMG_1945_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: November 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: November 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: November 2009.

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Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: November 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus (collapsing).
Last visited: November 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: November 2009.


Marana, Arizona

bizarre_cristate0347_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate0346_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2009.


Coronado National Forest, Arizona

bizarre_cristate9082_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate9081_s.jpg
bizarre_cristate9090_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate9088_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: November 2008.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: June 2009.


Tucson, Arizona

bizarre_cristate9071_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate9074_s.jpg
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bizarre_cristate0286_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate0293_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: November 2008.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2009.

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bizarre_cristate2396_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate2398_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: November 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: December 2009.


Tohono Chul Park, Tucson, Arizona

bizarre_cristate2040_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate2043_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: November 2009.


Bach's Cactus Nursery, Tucson, Arizona

bizarre_cristate0219_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate0222_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2009.


University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

bizarre_cristate9119_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate9118_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: November 2008.


Tucson Botanical Garden, Arizona

Photos by Bizarre Backroads contributing photographer John Orman.

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bizarre_cristate_tbg2body_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate_tbg2head_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2008.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2008.
The crest of this cactus was dying when this photo was taken in March 2008; within 4 months the entire crest fell off or was removed.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         


Sabino Canyon, Tucson, Arizona

bizarre_cristate0316_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate0312_s.jpg
bizarre_cristate0325_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate0324_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2009.


Sweetwater Preserve, Tucson, Arizona

bizarre_cristate1445_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate1436_s.jpg
bizarre_cristate1464_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate1465_s.jpg
bizarre_cristate1446_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate1447_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: April 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: April 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: April 2009.
                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                 
One arm of this saguaro looks like it sustained damage, then continued growing as a small crest.


Tucson Mountain County Park, Arizona

bizarre_cristate4517_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate4520_s.jpg
bizarre_cristate1483_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate1499_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2008.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: April 2009.


Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona

bizarre_cristate4620_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate4543_s.jpg
bizarre_cristate4666_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate4667_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2008.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2008.


Saguaro National Park, Arizona

bizarre_cristate0257_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate0260_s.jpg
bizarre_cristate0272_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate0278_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2009.

bizarre_cristate1995_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate2007_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate2001_s.jpg
bizarre_cristate2024_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate2013_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate2021_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: November 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: November 2009.

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bizarre_cristate2441_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate2439_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: December 2009.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: December 2009.


Tohono O'odham Reservation, Arizona

bizarre_cristate2640_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate2639_s.jpg
bizarre_cristate2648_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate2650_s.jpg
bizarre_cristate2667_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate2664_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: January 2010.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: January 2010.
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: January 2010.

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Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: January 2010.
This is a rare "ring" crested saguaro, in which the crest grows in a ring around the tip of the saguaro.


Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

bizarre_cristate2544_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate2554_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: January 2010.


Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona

bizarre_cristate020330_25_s.jpg
Cristate saguaro cactus.
Last visited: March 2002.
This magnificent specimen, with a crest that spreads about 6 feet across, is located in an area that is now closed to all access, so this cactus can no longer be visited by the public.

bizarre_cristate9313_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate9307_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate9304_s.jpg
bizarre_cristate2179_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate669S_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate2181_s.jpg
Cristate organ pipe cactus.
Last visited: November 2008.
Cristate organ pipe cactus.
Last visited: March 2007.

bizarre_cristate2163_s.jpg    bizarre_cristate2155_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate2159_s.jpg   bizarre_cristate2154_s.jpg
Cristate organ pipe cactus with crests on three arms.
Last visited: March 2007.


Thanks to Glenn K. and Dave P. for guiding me to several of these cactuses, and to Dave P. for lending me his camera for a couple of these photos!

For other types of mutant cactus, see my Not Quite Crested and Saguaros Gone Wild pages.




Standard disclaimer: Sites are described for entertainment purposes only, as they were at the time of my last visit. I can not vouch for the current condition of the site or its accessibility.

Revised: February 21, 2010
Copyright © 2008-2010 Joe Orman
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