Horticulture & Night-Blooming Cereus

Cultivation

• The plants are native to the rain forests of tropical regions and are all members of the Cactaceae, or cactus, family. They have thick, fleshy stems. Many of them are epiphytic, depending on other plants for support. In colder regions they are grown inside, making rather dull houseplants until they bloom. They are easily grown in compost-enriched, well-drained soil. They are all easy to propagate from cuttings or raise from seed.

Hylocereus Species

• This genus contains 18 species of plants producing aerial roots. The plants can reach up to 35 feet wide and 7 to 10 feet long. The stems are three-sided, segmented and bluish green. The species H. undatus has long been cultivated for its delicious fruit, called dragon fruit, and stunning, white, 10- to 12-inch flowers. It produces numerous sprawling stems with 1/8-inch, conical, gray-brown spines. H. undatus is also known by the common name queen of the night.

Epiphyllum Species

• According to "Flora: A Gardener's Encyclopedia," edited by Sean Hogan, many plants labeled as Epiphyllum species are mislabeled. He says true Epiphyllum species have white flowers that only bloom at night. They have aerial roots and long stems that are round near the base of the plant, flattening out, leaflike, near the tip with scalloped edges. The flowers have long floral tubes with inner and outer petals. The flowers of the species Epiphyllum oxypetalum are 5 to 7 inches wide and have been dubbed queen of the night or night blooming cereus.

Selenicereus Species

• Named for the Greek moon goddess Selene, plants of this genera are also called queen of the night, as well as moonflower. It has pencil-thick stems up to 17 feet long. Branches have 3 to 12 ribs and are covered in short or bristly spines. The flowers open after midnight for only one day of the year. The species S. grandiflorus bears highly perfumed flowers 5 to 16 inches long.