Cactus - Is It Illegal To Have One Removed From Your Property? (Phoenix: hoa)

[sunshinecities]

Just curious - now keep in mind I love cactus - but I'm curious if it's illegal to have one removed from one's property if they want it removed - thought I read something about that once. Thanks

[Ponderosa]

Private land owners can destroy native speciesn on their property. There are some requirements/limitations, though. Saguaro cacti are extremely valuable and developers almost without exception preserve and transplant them. Cactus tolerate being transplated even when very mature and large.

[jco]

My grandparents live in a non-HOA area, and they cannot remove a cactus from their land. They live in Phoenix near a mountain, and were even restricted on the color of their home.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Private land owners can destroy native speciesn on their property. There are some requirements/limitations, though. Saguaro cacti are extremely valuable and developers almost without exception preserve and transplant them. Cactus tolerate being transplated even when very mature and large.

Ive heard transplanted saguaro dont do very well. I think the Desert Botanical Garden had a whole bunch die off that were transplated?

[Ponderosa]

Well I can't say with certainty but they are commonly transplanted and you can buy them through nurseries everywhere. They say you should mark their orientation (N-S) and then plant them the same way as they develop thicker skin on the south and west sides. I have a big one in my yard. I got some barrels free when Lake Pleasant was being flooded (they let people go in an get cactus from areas that would be under water when the new dam filled). I left them laying in the back yard for months and then planted them and they did fine. About half of the ocotillos I got did not make it. When you buy cacti you get tags with them indicating that they are legal.

I do know that Ocotillo are one of the more difficult ones. Most of the prickly pear varieties can be propogated simply by cutting off a pad and putting it in the ground.

[Steve-o]

Interesting... I wanted to grow some prickly pear outside my patio, and you just gave me an idea. LOL

[Ponderosa]

Steve-o, don't know if you have ever driven Beeline Highway to Payson. That used to be two-lane and when they widened it to a divided highway they removed and then replanted thousands of cacti including saguaro to restore the surrounding area. They had a big "cactus lot" that they kept them on during the construction. Another interesting thing that was done on that road is the application of "eonite", a chemical stain, that makes the rocks appear weathered and match in the undisturbed rock adjacent to road cuts through the mountains. It is one of the prettiest drives around here.

[ejk]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Ive heard transplanted saguaro dont do very well. I think the Desert Botanical Garden had a whole bunch die off that were transplated?

I don't know but we planted an arm that we cut off of a friend's saguaro and it's done great! I guess that doesn't count as a full transplant though.

We've done the same with prickly pear pads and they have grown like crazy

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Interesting... I wanted to grow some prickly pear outside my patio, and you just gave me an idea. LOL

That should make your scorpions feel right at home.

[Steve-o]

LOL Nah, my scorpions stay inside, where they belong. ;-)

As for Beeline Hwy, yes I have been down it, but never paid much attention to the immediate surroundings, as it was dusk. Ill have to check that out when Im down in June. Thanks for the tip.