Unicorns of the Desert: Rare Crested Saguaros That Look Like Broccoli

January 28, 2026

Crested saguaros are among the rarest and most fascinating sights in the desert.

Unlike typical saguaros that grow tall with classic arms, these cacti develop a fan-shaped, wavy crest at the top — often compared to broccoli, coral, or a giant green brain.

No one knows exactly why this happens.

Scientists believe the unusual growth pattern, known as fasciation, may be caused by damage to the cactus’s growth center early in life. Possible triggers include lightning strikes, freezing temperatures, physical injury, insects, or genetic mutations — but none of these explanations have been proven.

What makes crested saguaros even more remarkable is how rare they are. Only a tiny fraction of saguaros ever develop this form, and it can take decades before the crest becomes large and dramatic enough to notice.

Some crested saguaros are estimated to be well over 100 years old.

Eagle4523 on Reddit

Each crested saguaro is completely unique. No two crests grow the same way, and once the crest begins, it continues to grow in its own unpredictable pattern for the rest of the cactus’s life.

Some saguaros even grow normally for decades before suddenly forming a crest.

@oh_whataworld on Instagram / Desert Botanical Garden

Despite their strange appearance, crested saguaros are healthy and stable plants.

They bloom, store water, and survive desert conditions just like normal saguaros — they just do it with a little more flair.

Roger Naylor

Because of their rarity and beauty, crested saguaros are often considered natural works of art. Many people go their entire lives in the desert without ever seeing one in person, which is why spotting one feels so special.

As one photographer perfectly put it: “Crested saguaros are the unicorns of the desert—rare, exotic, and beautiful.”

Hello from New River / Gigi Cowan

If you’re hoping to see one in person, crested saguaros can be found scattered throughout the Sonoran Desert, though spotting one is still a rare and magical experience.