Arizona's saguaro cactus has evolved to thrive in the extreme climate of the Sonoran Desert, but after decades of rising heat, even these towering icons are showing signs of stress.

The saguaro cactus is synonymous with the Sonoran Desert, the region where it grows best. The slow-growing species is hardy and, despite longtime rumors of disease, resistant to blight.

Things To Do Home and Garden Feeding the future: testing cactus as a desert food crop Climate change is pushing people to explore — and discover foods that others have known for ages.