Phoenix’s extreme heat withers saguaros, trademark cactus of desert landscape

Cactuses are commonly assumed to be made to endure scorching heat, but even they have their limits, as has been shown recently

After recording the warmest monthly average temperature for any American city ever in July, Phoenix climbed back up to dangerously high temperatures on Wednesday. That could mean trouble not just for people but for some of the region's plants, too.

Residents across the sprawling metro are finding the extended extreme heat has led to fried flora. Nurseries and landscapers are inundated with requests for help with saguaros or fruit trees that are losing leaves.