The saguaro cactus is a vital source of water in the desert; it functions like a living water barrel. This plant looks like an archetypical cactus with branches dramatically sticking out. Just like animals, plants can play a vital role as ecosystem engineers just like animals. The saguaro cactus is a unique keystone plant providing many animals shelter, food, and nesting sites. If saguaros disappeared, fewer birds would have places to nest, and their populations would shrink, or the birds would disperse to new areas. Invertebrates and small mammals that rely on the cacti for habitat would have to find shelter elsewhere or be more vulnerable to predators and extreme temperatures.
This is exactly the kind of relationship biomimicry designers study — not copying the saguaro’s shape, but copying its role: what would it mean to build something (a shelter, a water system) that supports an entire community the way this one plant does?
“The Night Flower” by Lara Hawthorne is a beautifully illustrated book that portrays the vibrancy of the desert ecosystem, including fascinating plants and animals. We often think of deserts as places with little life, but this book shows us that several animals and plants call the desert their home. The book describes one of the most special events in the Saguaro Desert – the blooming of the saguaro cactus. Wildlife gathers around to witness this remarkable annual event as the cactus only blooms for a single night once a year. The blooms transform the desert into a riot of colours and sounds, attracting mammals and insects to witness this wondrous event.
The iconic saguaro cactus, like numerous other plants and animals, is affected by changes in our climate. Particularly, young saguaro cacti face challenges due to rising temperatures and drought conditions.
We returned to the saguaro’s remarkable design later, including a real building inspired by its heat-management strategy — see Saguaro Cactus: Nurturing Wildlife and Sparking Creativity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is biomimicry?
Biomimicry is the practice of looking to nature for solutions, then applying what we learn to design and problem-solving. Instead of inventing from scratch, it means studying how plants, animals, and ecosystems have already solved a challenge — like staying cool, collecting water, or absorbing carbon — and adapting that strategy for human use.
How does biomimicry help address climate change?
Nature has been adapting to extreme conditions for billions of years, so many organisms already hold working solutions to problems we now face at a larger scale — cooling buildings without electricity (termite mounds), collecting water in drought (the Namib beetle), protecting coastlines from storms (mangrove roots), and capturing carbon (corals, forests, kelp). Biomimicry means studying those solutions and applying the same principles to human design.
How can children get involved in biomimicry?
Children don’t need special training to think like a biomimicrist — just curiosity and a habit of asking “how does nature solve this?” Simple ways to start include a backyard scavenger hunt for nature’s patterns, a “design-an-animal” challenge for a changing climate, or building a small model (like a passive-cooling structure or a water collector) inspired by something they’ve observed outdoors.
Is biomimicry only for scientists and engineers?
No — biomimicry is as much a mindset as a profession. Anyone can practice it by observing nature closely and asking design questions. Professional biomimicry practitioners apply it in architecture, materials science, and engineering, but the same core skill — careful observation followed by “what if we built it that way?” — is exactly what this post’s classroom and family activities are designed to build in children.
Åsa Jomård
In 2015, Åsa completed a course in Biomimicry: A Sustainable Design Methodology at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. With over 10 years of experience exploring nature for inspiration and as a former member of Ben, Biomimicry Education Network, she brings both academic background and creative teaching experience to her work. Her materials seamlessly integrate stories, nature observations, and design challenges, making them perfect for inquiry-led learning in early primary contexts.
AI was used as a Thinking Partner.