Carnegiea sp.
Saguaro, Saguaro
Family: Cactaceae · Type: Perennial · Variable; species dependent
Carnegiea sp. (Saguaro) is a non-native California perennial in the Cactaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Trichocereus: Carnegiea has thick unbranched base for 5+ feet; Trichocereus branches from ground level.; vs Pachycereus: Carnegiea has white flowers and smooth spines; Pachycereus has colored flowers and rougher spines.; vs Ferocactus: Carnegiea is tall columnar over 6 feet; Ferocactus is barrel-shaped under 4 feet.; vs Cereus: Carnegiea stays unbranched in lower 5+ feet; Cereus branches lower to ground.; vs Cleistocactus: Carnegiea has stems over 12 inches wide; Cleistocactus has pencil-thin stems under 3 inches.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carnegiea sp. native to California?
No. Carnegiea sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Carnegiea sp. belong to?
Carnegiea sp. is in the Cactaceae family, genus Carnegiea.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.