What Kind of Flower Does the Apro Cactus Have?

Species Names

• The infrequently used common name "apro cactus" derives from the disused genus name Aporocactus. The more frequent common name, rattail cactus, owes to the plant's long, hanging branches, which take on a gray color when mature. Plants that originally fell into Aporocactus now belong to the genus Disocactus. Three species are common in cultivation: Disocactus flagelliformis, D. conzattii, and D. martianus. A number of hybrids are also available.

Flower Shape and Size

• The flowers of rattail cactus resemble those of Christmas cactus. Flower buds develop as woolly or bristly tubes, measuring about 4 inches long. When open, flowers can measure 3 inches across or more. Petals curve back at the tip, producing a trumpet-like shape. Often, petals that attach more towards the base of the flower tube terminate and curl back a fraction of an inch below the main inflorescence, giving the blossom the appearance of a flower within a flower.

Flower Color

• In the wild, rattail cactus blooms in various shades of deep pink. The most common species of rattail cactus, Disocactus flagelliformis, has flowers that are pink or violet. The species Disocactus conzattii has brick red flowers, and hybrids exist with bright red, purple or orange flowers. The plants typically possess large, prominent stamens with a light yellow color that contrasts markedly with the flower body.

Flowering Period

• Rattail cactus usually blooms in spring or summer, depending on the species. Each flower remains open for about four days, and they occur predominantly on old growth. During the flowering period, which is also the plant's growth period, keep the plant well watered. The plant needs significantly less water when dormant, but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Even in winter, the soil should be slightly damp.