Organ Pipe Cactus

desert · cactus · hardy plants

Looks like an organ. This cactus gets its name because its many tall stems grow together and look just like the wooden pipes of a church organ. That's so cool that nature made something that looks like a musical instrument!

Lives in rocky deserts. The organ pipe cactus thrives in super hot, dry rocky desert areas where it barely rains. It's found in parts of Mexico and the southwestern United States, where temperatures can get blazing hot during the day.

Has a whole park named after it. The Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona was created to protect this amazing species. Visitors can hike through the desert there and see these unique cacti up close.

Needs rain to survive. Even though organ pipe cacti are super tough, they are very picky about when it rains. Without the right amount of rain at the right times of year, these plants can't survive, which makes them vulnerable to droughts.

Two different sizes. Scientists recognize two different subspecies of organ pipe cactus based on where they grow and how tall they get. This shows how these cacti have adapted slightly to their different desert homes.