Flowering Night Cactus

Perennial Shrubs

• Varieties of night-blooming cereus are native to Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. These perennial shrubs have long, thin, spiny stalks that project directly from the base. Large white flowers shoot off the tips at dusk. Salvaging wild Queen-of-the-night (Selenicereus grandiflorus) is restricted in Arizona, and Peniocereus greggii is endangered in New Mexico, according to the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. Varieties of cereus are known to grow up to 30 feet tall in Brazil and Argentina.

Blooming Habits

• Cereus flowers open at night to be pollinated primarily by bats and moths. Their white flowers are generally large and are trumpet- or funnel-shaped. Unlike its cousin, the Christmas cactus, whose flowers can last for a week, cereus flowers last only one night. After flowering, red or yellow fruit can form if the climate is amiable. It is sometimes edible, depending on the variety.

Indoor Varieties

• The Queen-of-the-night cereus is often grown indoors. It hails from Eastern Mexico and the Caribbean and enjoys warmth. It will tolerate temperatures down to 60 degrees. It has thin, hairy, climbing stems that are covered with needle-like spines. Its white flowers can bloom up to 12 inches long and turn into edible, yellow fruits. Another popular plant is Lady-of-the-night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum), which has long, flat leaves shooting from thin branches. It is considered an orchid cactus and resembles that family more. Its flowers have a strong, sweet fragrance.

Care of Indoor Cereus

• Flowering night cacti are tropical and need dappled sun in summer and a sunny window in winter. They are easy to grow, and once the plant is placed in a location that suits its needs, it will flower profusely. Plant cereus in well-drained soil. Water well, but let it drain thoroughly. Do not water again until the soil is dry several inches deep. Water it less in winter than summer. A light, monthly fertilization in summer at half the rate recommended on the food package is all it requires.

Propagation Indoors

• Starting new plants is easy. Poke a hole with a stick or pencil into the soil. Clip a stem or branch section from the parent plant and bury it deep enough to enfold the lower part in dirt. Press the soil firmly around the section, then water well. In a few weeks, roots will take hold and new growth will be seen at ground level. These plants have a long life that can exceed 30 years. Flowering may be less profuse as the plant ages.