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Description
Cereus giganteus
The saguaro cactus seems to have made its first foray into Arizona officialdom on an 1864 version of the Territorial Seal.

Originally designed in 1863 by the first Secretary of the Arizona Territory (later Governor), Richard Cunningham McCormick, the seal depicted a miner in front of a wheelbarrow with a pick and a short-handled spade. Two mountains rose in the background. McCormick's seal also included the motto, Ditat Deus. The seal was not well received by later statesmen and numerous changes were made over the years.

The first change was authorized by the first Territorial Legislature in the fall of 1864. They specified a seal with a view of San Francisco mountain [sic] in the distance and a deer, pine trees, and columnar cactus in the foreground. This seal was first used in 1879. Versions of this seal were used until Arizona gained statehood and a 1905 version was used on the original 1910 Arizona Constitution.

05/17/2012
Arizona State Flower: Saguaro Cactus Blossom
The saguaro's blossom was adopted as the official flower of the Arizona Territory on March 18, 1901

According to the Arizona Blue Book 1929-1930, compiled by Secretary of State I. P. Fraizer, the State flower of Arizona is the sahuara cactus (Cereus giganteus) but it wasn't until 1931 that it became official. Note the spelling, "sahuara" in the Arizona Blue Book and the act below.

The saguaro blossom was officially adopted as the Arizona State flower on March 16, 1931. The act says:

Section 2. The pure white waxy flower of the Cereus Giganteus (Giant Cactus) or Sahuara, shall be the state flower of Arizona.

The spelling of Arizona's state flower has been changed from "Sahuara" to "Saguaro" in current law. The saguaro cactus is also known as the pitahaya, sahuara and giant cactus.

Description
Cereus giganteus
The saguaro cactus seems to have made its first foray into Arizona officialdom on an 1864 version of the Territorial Seal.

Originally designed in 1863 by the first Secretary of the Arizona Territory (later Governor), Richard Cunningham McCormick, the seal depicted a miner in front of a wheelbarrow with a pick and a short-handled spade. Two mountains rose in the background. McCormick's seal also included the motto, Ditat Deus. The seal was not well received by later statesmen and numerous changes were made over the years.

The first change was authorized by the first Territorial Legislature in the fall of 1864. They specified a seal with a view of San Francisco mountain [sic] in the distance and a deer, pine trees, and columnar cactus in the foreground. This seal was first used in 1879. Versions of this seal were used until Arizona gained statehood and a 1905 version was used on the original 1910 Arizona Constitution.

05/17/2012
Arizona State Flower: Saguaro Cactus Blossom
The saguaro's blossom was adopted as the official flower of the Arizona Territory on March 18, 1901

According to the Arizona Blue Book 1929-1930, compiled by Secretary of State I. P. Fraizer, the State flower of Arizona is the sahuara cactus (Cereus giganteus) but it wasn't until 1931 that it became official. Note the spelling, "sahuara" in the Arizona Blue Book and the act below.

The saguaro blossom was officially adopted as the Arizona State flower on March 16, 1931. The act says:

Section 2. The pure white waxy flower of the Cereus Giganteus (Giant Cactus) or Sahuara, shall be the state flower of Arizona.

The spelling of Arizona's state flower has been changed from "Sahuara" to "Saguaro" in current law. The saguaro cactus is also known as the pitahaya, sahuara and giant cactus.