Record-breaking heat in Arizona is killing even iconic southwest saguaro cacti. Yes, cacti are part of desert life and were created to withstand the heat. However, the temperatures experienced this summer have become too high even for cacti growing on the ground.
Another reason behind the death of cacti is the lack of rainfall in the southwest. According to the National Weather Service, Arizona should experience the monsoon season from June to September each year. Some parts of the state receive half the annual precipitation during this period, providing the cacti in this region with enough water to wait for drier periods. But the monsoon season has changed over time, leaving the saguaro cacti to dry out. Kimberlie McCue, chief scientific officer of the Desert Botanical Garden, told CNN that the combination of low rainfall and high temperatures is making the cacti quite stressed.
The Desert Botanical Garden’s online guide states that saguaro cacti need some supplemental water during drought years. There are obvious signs that a cactus is not doing very well in hot, dry weather. Saguaros are fluffy instead of having a hard shell and standing tall, which are signs of a healthy cactus. They also lose limbs, begin to bend, and even collapse in extreme conditions.
The Phoenix metropolitan area experiences a period of several weeks when daytime temperatures rise above 32.2 degrees Celsius. The high temperatures and lack of rain are leaving the cacti without water. This makes them more susceptible to insects that will further damage desert plants.
Climate change has also affected other iconic plants in the west. The lifespan of the extraterrestrial-looking Joshua trees found all over California has been shortened over time. State officials took action to permanently protect these trees.
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