Queen of the Night

This post comes from my sister, Beth Skulas, and features a night blooming Cereus (epiphyllum oxypetalum), a member of the cactus family. It is also called Dutchman's Pipe.

A bit like Cinderella at the ball, the night blooming Cereus blooms only at night and for only one night. By morning the blossoms have wilted.  Due to bad luck or bad timing, some people never see the plant in bloom.

Beth’s plant is about 15 years old, a descendant of one that our Grandmother raised and our cousin propagated. It began blooming every summer about 7 years ago, once with as many as nine blooms in a single night. The blooms are especially fragrant. Some say the center stamens depict the nativity scene, with the largest "starlike" stamen, representing the star over Bethlehem.

There are a number of videos available in which you can see the buds slowly opening. Follow this link to see one in which three flowers opening simultaneously.  Enjoy and thank you, Beth.