If you asked someone to draw a quick sketch of a cactus, the saguaro would be the one they would draw. It is the most recognisable cactus due to it's use in western movies as landscape shots of the Arizona desert stereotype our view of outback USA.

The beauty of this cactus is the rate at which it grows. It takes 50 years to flower and 75 years to grow its first appendage starting life as a single stem. The ones that are usually shown in western movies with multiple appendages would be well over 100 years old and could be closer to 200+. However, at this age they begin show the effects of their age and, like humans, will become weaker and lose their healthy vigour.

The Saguaro cactus, carnegiea gigantea, is a native cactus to the Sonoran desert of Arizona. It flowers for about 2 months through the night in the middle of summer (once it's old enough - of course!) and Arizona claims it as its State Flower. It will grow to approx 8-10m (26-33 feet) when fully mature and will expand its appendages with water as it attempts to retain enough for dry periods. It can save enough for more than 2-3 years.

While you may want to grow one in your own garden you might find that you could possibly run out of time and never see it flower. So, if possible, buy a fairly established one.