Arizona state symbols & fun facts
Spot the state bird, find the state tree and learn why Pluto is Arizona's planet.
Last checked against each organizer's or business's own website. Details change, so please confirm before you go.
Quick facts
- Arizona became the 48th state on February 14, 1912: Valentine's Day. (National Archives)
- Saguaros start flowering at about 35 years old and may not grow their first arm until 50–70 years old. Some live more than 200 years. (National Park Service)
- The tallest saguaro on record was 78 feet tall and had no arms at all. (National Park Service)
The official symbols
Arizona's biggest wren, and a common sight and sound in the desert around Cave Creek.
The waxy white flower of the saguaro. Each bloom opens at night and lasts only about a day, between late April and mid-June.
Spanish for "green stick." Its green bark can make food from sunlight, and it turns bright yellow with flowers in spring.
A shy, big-eyed night animal with a long striped tail. It's related to raccoons, not cats, even though people call it a "ringtail cat."
A small rattlesnake from a few mountain ranges in southern Arizona. You won't meet this one on Cave Creek trails, but other rattlesnakes do live here.
A big yellow-and-black butterfly with two little "tails" on each back wing.
Arizona's copper mining history shows up in the state flag's copper star.
Ancient logs turned to stone. Petrified Forest National Park is full of it.
A long-necked plant-eater whose bones were found in southern Arizona.
The flag's lower half is blue, with 13 red and yellow rays and a copper star above.
Desert scavenger hunt
On an easy walk at Cave Creek Regional Park or in the Carefree Desert Gardens, see how many you can find:
- A cactus wren, the state bird.
- A palo verde tree with green bark.
- A saguaro with at least one arm. Bonus: one with five or more.
- A lizard sunning on a rock (from a distance).
- Turquoise jewelry in a shop window on Cave Creek Road.
Look, don't touch: give all wildlife space, and never handle snakes. See our hiking safety tips.
How we picked
Every official symbol comes straight from Arizona law (Title 41 of the Arizona Revised Statutes); we link the exact section for each one. Saguaro and statehood facts come from the National Park Service and the National Archives. Descriptions are written in our own words for kids and visitors.
Questions
What is the state bird of Arizona?
The cactus wren. Arizona law names it the state bird, and it's easy to spot in Cave Creek's desert.
What is Arizona's state flower?
The white blossom of the saguaro cactus. Saguaros start blooming at around 35 years old, usually from late April to mid-June, and each flower lasts about a day.
When did Arizona become a state?
February 14, 1912. It was the 48th state and the last of the lower 48 to join.
Why is Pluto Arizona's state planet?
Pluto was discovered at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff in 1930, and Arizona later made it the official state planet.
What's the official state drink?
Lemonade.