ASU's location in a sunny, desert environment makes the campus the perfect place for cactuses.
Gabriella Zwall, a senior studying dietetics and a member of the Cultivate Downtown Gardening Club at ASU, has experience working with plants such as flowers, vegetables and cactuses. Zwall said cactuses are the perfect way to start gardening for beginners.
"I do recommend cactuses actually and succulents because they need minimal everything most of the time," Zwall said.
Most types of cactuses grow well outdoors or on sunny patios and require frequent watering, but less than a flower or other backyard plant, according to the Desert Botanical Garden.
"Once they're rooted and have been growing for a little bit, they're not that high maintenance," said Kyrstin Sezate, a sophomore studying geography. "You just kind of check on them every once in a while and make sure that there's no rot or anything."
Similar to humans, cactuses also contain an internal skeleton, but theirs are a woody structure to keep the plant upright. When a cactus is scarred, damaged or suffers breakage, it doesn't recover from the wound, but rather develops a scar-like structure to heal itself.
ASU students can look for scars on the cactuses that have been growing on the ASU campus for years.
Senita
"The (senita) spine become hairy at the tops," said Violet Wielgus, a utility locator at ASU.
The senita is native to southern Arizona and can grow to over 15 feet tall. These cactuses can be found on the Tempe campus near Forest Mall. The plant has very few pollinators but is commonly pollinated with the help of the senita moth.
Saguaro
Exclusively found in the Sonoran desert, these cactuses grow the state flower of Arizona — the saguaro cactus flower. They are the tallest cactuses in America and can live up to 200 years. The cactuses are a common place for birds to nest in.
"Saguaro's bloom at night, and bats are the ones that really prefer their flowers," Wielgus said.
There are several cactuses on the Tempe campus, but one of the biggest is located by ASU Gammage.
Golden barrel cactus
Golden barrel cactuses can be found near the Memorial Union and got their names from their golden-colored spines and distinct barrel shape. When these cactuses are in bloom, around April, they grow flowers that come in shades of yellow, pink, orange and red.
"They're from Mexico, and they're actually endangered in their natural environment," Wielgus said. "You see these used a lot in landscaping ... They require a little bit more attention than some other cactuses, because they can scorch really easily in the sun, and they need really good drainage."
Candelabro
"(The Candelabro) is a South American cactus," Wielgus said. "This is another example of a cactus that turns purple in response to cold weather."
Candelabro produce reddish-purple fruit which have been part of Indigenous Mexican and Central American culture. The arms of this cactus curve outward like a candelabra, which is where this cactus gets its name. The sap of the candelabro is highly toxic and can cause rashes and blisters if touched.
A candelabro cactus can be found on Tyler mall, outside the School of Human Evolution and Social Change.
Mexican fence post
"It was actually used as a physical barrier, and that's why it's called the Mexican fence post," Wielgus said.
Mexican fence post cactuses thrive in desert climates, but some growers can protect the tips of the cactuses with Styrofoam cups in the summer. It is also used for its medicinal properties to treat diabetes, and it is currently being researched as a prospective cancer treatment.
The MU doesn't have a full fence, but a couple, short Mexican fence post cactuses are located outside.
Prickly pear
Prickly pear cactuses come in many other names such as Cow's Tongue or Beaver Tail. In the cold weather, the prickly pear cactus starts to turn purple because of the increased stress put on the plant from the cold. The fruit of the plant is edible and is described as having a sweet citrusy taste. It can be used to make drinks or desserts.
"If you can stop by here in April, when all the cacti is really in bloom, these have really lovely yellow flowers," Wielgus said. "They almost look like a yellow rose."
ASU is home to many varieties of cactuses and is a great place to see these desert plants in their desert environment. Each cactus has its own unique use and story, whether it's used for its medicinal purposes, spiritual significance or just for decoration. These spiny plants serve as a symbol of resilience and beauty in the Sonoran Desert.
Edited by Sophia Ramirez, Sophia Braccio and Katrina Michalak.
Reach the reporter at myerrag1@asu.edu.
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