Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Night blooming cereus

16 years ago

Six buds getting ready to open!

Looks like one night this week I won't be getting much sleep! I'll have to stock up on Off! so I can spend some time outside watching them open. Doesn't matter how many times I've seen it before - it's simply too cool to pass up.

But I've never seen the pollinator! For many years I grew the plant in a screened patio and would hear something flying against the screen but couldn't see what it was. Bats? Sphinx Moths? The mysterious and seldom seen Florida Skunk Ape? Does anyone know?

I'll be outside with this one so if it's something creepy, I would like to know about it!

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Comments (28)

cindeea
16 years ago
OOoohhhhhh Make sure you take the camera an photograph it's progress for us!
abendwolke
16 years ago
I was told bats are the one visiting those huge night blooms :-)

Kate, the cutting I have from you is doing great, but no buds yet.

My queen of the night is setting flowerbuds like crazy:

{{gwi:885469}}

Evelyn
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Go to Logees.com and they have it! they have both plants that are called a night blooming cereus The first is Epiphyllum oxypetalum called night blooming Cereus or dutch-mans Pipe Cactus http://logees.com/prodinfo.asp?number=S7507-2 Then they sell the Hylocereus Undatus which some people call a Night blooming cereus. This one however produces a fruit called a dragon Fruit because the fruits have scales. http://logees.com/prodinfo.asp?number=R2120-2 Both are night blooming and both Highly fragrant! Blooms open so fast you can watch! hope one of these is the one you are looking for! ~Sam
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The following is a list of plants suitable for a Moon Garden and was provided by Clare_CA in June 2004. Plants for a Moon Garden Most of these plants have fragrant flowers or fragrant foliage, but some of them are not fragrant but were added for their beauty at night. Abronia fragrans, sand verbena Acacia Farnesiana, Perfume Acacia Acacia Floribunda, Profuse Flowering Acacia Aglaia odorata (Chinese perfume plant, chinese rice flower, Mock Lemon, Family: Meliaceae) Alcea rugosa, Yellow Hollyhock Allamanda Cathartica (Golden Trumpet, Family: Apocynaceae) Allamanda Williamsii (Golden trumpet vine, Family: Apocynaceae) Anemone x hybrida 'Whirlybirds', Japanese anemone Angelonia goyazensis (Angel Mist, Summer Snapdragon, Angel Flower, Family: Scrophulariaceae) Araujia sericofera, Physianthus albens (Bladder flower, Family: Asclepiadaceae) Artabotrys Hexapetalus, A. odoratissimus, A. uncinatus (Ylang Ylang vine, Bhandari vine, Climbing lang-lang, Tail grape, ilang-ilang, Family: Annonaceae) Artemisia, Artemisia schmidtiana, wormwood Beaumontia grandiflora (Easter Lily Vine, Heralds Trumpet, Nepal Trumpet Flower, Family: Apocynaceae) Bouvardia longiflora Brugmansia, (Angels Trumpet, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia americana (Lady of the night, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia australis (Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia floribunda (Morning, Noon and Night, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia gigantea (Lady of the Night, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia grandiflora (Yesterday -Today -Tomorrow, Kiss-me-quick, Royal Purple Brunfelsia, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia jamaicensis (Lady of the Night, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia lactea (Lady of the night, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia manaca (Manaca, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia nitida (, Family: Solanaceae (Nightshade)) Brunfelsia Pilosa (Manaca root, Family: Solanaceae (Nightshade)) Buddleia asiatica Buddleia davidii, Butterfly Bush Calonyction aculeatum, Ipomoea alba (Giant moonflower, Family: Convolvulaceae) Calycanthus Floridus, Sweet Shade Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang, Perfume Tree, Chanel #5 Tree, ilang-ilang, Family: Annonaceae) Cananga odorata var. Fruticosa (Dwarf Ylang-Ylang, Family: Annonaceae) Carex muskingumensis 'Ice Fountains', Palm sedge Carissa carandas (Karanda, Family: Apocynaceae) Carissa macrocarpa, C. grandiflora (Natal Plum, Family: Apocynaceae) Cassia Didymobotrya, C. Siamea (Popcorn Cassia, Peanut Butter Senna, Family: Fabaceae) Cassia odorata, Senna odorata (Southern cassia, Family: Caesalpiniaceae / Fabaceae) Cerbera odollam, C.dilatata (Chiute, Chatthankai, Grey Milkwood, Family: Apocynaceae) Cestrum nocturnum (Night blooming jasmine, Queen of the Night, Night Jessamine, Lady of the Night, Family: Solanaceae) Cheiranthus allionii, Wallflower Chonemorpha fragrans (Frangipani vine, Family: Apocynaceae) Chonemorpha penangensis (Chonemorpha, Family:Apocynaceae) Citrus flowers Clerodendrum bungei (Cashmere (Cashmir) bouquet, Glory Bower, Family: Verbenaceae) Clerodendrum minahasse (Fountain Clerodendrum, Clerodendron, Tube flower, Family: Verbenaceae) Clerodendrum philippinum Schau, C. fragrans pleniflorum, c. chinense (Chinese Glory Bower, Cashmere bouqet, Scent Malli, False Pikake, Glory Tree, Family: Verbenaceae) Clerodendrum trichotomum, C. trichotonum (Harlequin Glory, Family: Verbenaceae) Clusia lanceolata (Copey, Balsam Apple, Pitch Apple, Cerra cipapao apple, Family: Guttiferae (Clusiaceae)) Coccoloba Uvilfera, Sea Grapes Coffea arabica, C. robusta (Coffee, Family: Rubiaceae) Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' Cosmos bipinnatus 'Daydream' Costus speciosa Alba (White Costus, Family: ) Datura inoxia Datura metel Datura metel 'Cornucopea' (Purple Horn-of-Plenty, Jimpson Weed, Devils Weed, Family: Solanaceae) Datura wrightii Dianthus Barbatus, Sweet William Dianthus Caryophyllus, Snow White Carnation Dichondra "Silver Falls" Dombeya wallichii (Dombea, Tropical Hydrangea, Family: Sterculiaceae) Echinacea "White Swan" Epiphyllum Oxypetalum, Night Blooming Cereus Eremurus x Ruiter's hybrids (foxtail lily) Eugenia uniflora, E. michelii (Surinam Cherry, Pitanga, Brazilian Cherry, Family: Myrtaceae) Euphorbia marginata, Snow-on-the-mountain Fagraea Berteriana (Perfume Flower Tree, Pua Keni Keni, Family: Loganiaceae/Gentianaceae) Freesia Galium Odoratum, Sweet Woodruff Gardenia Augusta (Bush Gardenia, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia brighamii (Native Hawaiian Gardenia Nau, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia Four Seasons (Gardenia Four Seasons, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia Jasminoides (Cape jasmine, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia jasminoides 'White Gem' (White Gem, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia Radicans (Dwarf Gardenia Radicans, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia taitensis Star of Tahiti (Tahiti Gardenia, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia taitensis Tiare Tahiti (Tahiti Gardenia, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia thunbergium (white gardenia, forest gardenia, wild gardenia, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia Tubifera Kula (Golden Gardenia, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia Vietnamensis (Vietnamese Gardenia, Family: Rubiaceae) Gauras (G.coccinea, G. lindheimeri, G. parviflora) Gelsemium sempervirens (Yellow jessamine, Carolina Jasmine, Yellow jessamine, Trumpet Flower, Family: Loganiaceae) Genista, Sweet Broom Hedychium coronarium, White Ginger, Garland Lily, Butterfly Ginger (Family: Zingiberaceae) Heliotropium arborescens Alba, white Heliotrope Heliotropium Peruviana, H. arborescens (Turnsole, Cherry Pie, Family: Boraginaceae) Hemerocallis citrina, night-blooming daylily Hesperaloe nocturna, night yucca Hesperis matronalis, Dame's Rocket, Dame's Violet, Mother of the Evening, Sweet Rocket Hesperis Tristis, Night-scented Stock Hosta plantaginea, August Lily, Fragrant Hosta, Liliaceae Lily (Family: Liliaceae) Hymenosporum flavum, Sweetshade Tree Ipomoea alba, Moonflower vine Itea virginica Sprich (Virginia Sweetspire, Little Henry, Family: Grossulariaceae) Ixora fragrans (Fragrant Ixora, Family: Rubiaceae) Ixora sp. (Jungle flame, Needle flower, Family: Rubiaceae) Jasminum Jasminum angulare (South African Jasmine, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum azoricum, Jasminum trifoliatum Moench, J. bahiense, J. blandum, J. fluminense, J hildebrandtii, J. holstii (River Jasmine, Scrambling Vine, J. De Trapo, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum dichotomum (Gold Coast Jasmine, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum humile, J. grandiflorum (Italian Jasmine, Family: Oleaceae.) Jasminum mesnyi, J. primulinum (Japanese Jasmine, Primrose J., Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum Molle (Jasminum Molle, Indian Jui, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum nitidum, J. magnificum, J. illicifolium (Star Jasmine, Angelwing J., Shining J., Windmill J., Royal J., Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter jasmine, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum officinale grandiflorum, J. viminale, J. vulgatum, J. Affine (True jasmine, Common jasmine, French Perfume Jasmine, Poet's jasmine, Catalonian J., Spanish J., Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum parkeri (Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum polyanthum, J. blinii, J. delafieldii (Pink jasmine, Winter Jasmine, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum pubescens , J. multiflorum, J. gracillimum (Downy Jasmine, Angel Hair Jasmine, Star Jasmine, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum sambac, J. fragrans, J. undulatum, Mogori Sambac, Mogori undulata, Nyctanthes sambac (Arabian Jasmine, J. Grand Duke Of Tuscany, Butt Mograw, Belle of India, Maid of Orleans, Hawaiian Pikake, Sampaguitas, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum stephanense (Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum tortuosum (African Jasmine, Perfume jasmine, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum volubile, J. simplicifolium (Wax Jasmine, Family: ) Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote', lavender Lobularia maritima 'Pastel Carpet', sweet alyssum Lonicera heckrottii (Honeysuckle, Family: Caprifoliaceae) Lonicera japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle, Halls honeysuckle, Family: Caprifoliaceae) Magnolia (Family: Magnoliaceae) Mandevilla boliviensis, M. sanderi (Mandevilla Summer Snow, Family: Apocynaceae) Mandevilla Pink Parfeit (Hybrid Mandevilla, Family: Apocynaceae) Manglietia insignis, Red Lotus Tree Matthiola bicornis. Night-scented Stock Matthiola longipetala, Evening-scented stock Melia azedarach (Chinaberry Tree, Indian Lilac, Pride of India, White Cedar, Family: Meliaceae) Michelia champaca (Joy perfume tree, Family: Magnoliaceae) Michelia chapensis Michelia coco, M. Pumila Michelia Figo (Banana Magnolia, Family: Magnoliaceae) Michelia x alba, Magnolia Alba (White champak, Pak-lan, Family: Magnoliaceae) Mirabilis jalapa (Four o'clocks, Family: Nyctaginaceae) Mitriostigma axillare, Gardenia citriodora (African Gardenia, Family: Rubiaceae) Montanoa grandiflora (Tree Daisy, Family: Asteraceae) Murraya exotica Mini (Miniature Orange jasmine, Family: Rutaceae) Murraya paniculata (Orange Jasmine, O. Jessamine, Mock Orange, Lakeview jasmine, Family: Rutaceae) Myrtus, True Myrtle Narcissus Nicotiana alata, Jasmine Tobacco, flowering tobacco Nicotiana sylvestris, Woodland Tobacco Nicotiana x sanderae, Flowering Tobacco Nottingham Catchfly, Night-flowering Catchfly, and White Campion Ochna serrulata, O. multiflora, O. atropurpurea, O.thomasiana (Mickey Mouse Plant, Bird's Eye Bush, small-leaved plane, carnival bush,, Family: Ochnaceae) Oenothera biennis, Evening Primrose Osmanthus fragrans, Olea fragrans, Olea ovalis, Osmanthus longibracteatus, Osmanthus macrocarpus (Tea olive, fragrant olive, sweet olive, kinmokusei in Japan, Family: Oleaceae) Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Gulftide', Holly Osmanthus Passifloras, Passion flowers (P. Belotii, P. Incense, P. Alata "Ruby Glow.") Petunia 'Tidal Wave Silver' Philadelphus, Mock Orange Phlox paniculata, white varieties Plumeria sp., Frangipani, Temple tree (Family: Apocynaceae) Plumeria stenophylla, Frangipani (Family: Apocynaceae) Polianthes tuberosa, Tuberose Pterospermum acerifolium, Dinnerplate tree Quisqualis Indica, Rangoon Creeper, Burma creeper, Chinese honeysuckle, (Family: Combretaceae) Randia formosa, Mussaenda formosa Jacq., Randia mussaenda, Blackberry jam fruit, Jasmin de rosa (Family: Rubiaceae Madder family) Ruellia noctiflora, Night-blooming ruellia, Night-blooming wild petunia Salvia argentea, Silver sage Saponaria officinalis, Soapwart, Bouncing Bet, Fuller's-herb, Lady's-washbowl, Latherwort, Old-maid's-pink Saraca indica, S. asoca, Jonesia asoca (Ashoka Tree, Jonesia Asoka, Gandhapushpa, Sorrowless tree, Family: Caesalpiniaceae) Scabiosa Selenicerus grandiflora, Queen of the Night Senecio cineraria, Dusty Miller Solandra maxima, S. hartwegii, S. selerae, S. grandiflora (Butter Cup, Gold Cup, Chalice Vine, Cup-of-Gold, Trumpet Plant, Family: Solanaceae) Stemmadenia galeottiana (litoralis) (Lechoso, Milky Way tree, Family: Apocynaceae) Stephanotis floribunda (Bridal Bouquet, Family: Asclepiadaceae) Strophanthus Gratus, Climbing oleander, Cream Fruit, Rose allamanda (Family: Apocynaceae) Strophanthus preussii, Poison arrow vine (Family: Apocynaceae) Sweet Autumn Clematis, Clematis terniflora (Family: Ranunculaceae) Syringa vulgaris, lilacs Tabernaemontana Divaricata cv Flore Pleno (Crape Jasmine, Carnation of India, East Indian rosebay, Adam's apple, Nero's crown, coffee rose,, Family: Apocynaceae) Tabernaemontana holstii, Gardenia Nitida, Samoan Gardenia, Samoan name: pua (Family: Apocynaceae) Telosoma cordata, Pakalana vine (Family: Asclepiadaceae) Trachelospermum asiaticum, Asian Jasmine, Yellow star jasmine (Family: Apocynaceae) Trachelospermum Jasminoides, Confederate Jasmine, Star Jasmine (Family: Apocynaceae) Vigna caracalla, Corkscrew flower (Family: Fabaceae) Wisteria floribunda, Japanes Wisteria Wisteria sinensis, Chinese Wisteria Wrightia religiosa, Sacred Buddhist, Wondrous Wrightia (Family: Apocynaceae) Wrightia tinctoria, Snowflake, Milky way, Winter Cherry Tree (Family: Apocynaceae) Yucca filamentosa, Yucca
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shelrose
16 years ago
i had one of those cereus once when we were house-sitting. it really was one of the things that hooked me on gardening-- that, and my first yellow tomato, 'golden queen' straight off the vine.

enjoy, and hoep you don't sustain any bug bites,
shelbey
garyfla_gw
16 years ago
Hi
Almost all night blooming neo-tropical plants are pollinated by bats. But I have never seen a bat here lol
Have never had one set seed on it's own thogh they are certainly attractive to various insects.
gary
solstice98
Original Author
16 years ago
I don't see bats often but they are here occassionally. I'll notice them once in a while over the golfcouse pond. If they are anywhere nearby I'm sure they'll catch the scent of the flowers.

I think tonight's the night!
solstice98
Original Author
16 years ago
Na it wasn't the night. But maybe tonight?!!

The sad news is that only 2 buds are left! Out of six. The neighbor took out one and the lawn guy got two. One just wimped out and died.
wanna_run_faster
16 years ago
I've seen bats. Kinda freaky when you're walking down the street and the pop up and start to fly! I think one of my orchid catcus (don't think it's night blooming, though) is setting flowers. I have it on a screened patio so I may just have to move it outside while it blooms to see if I can attract a bat!
deborahmc52
16 years ago
We had our first..lol the other night..but I didn't know you were supposed to sit out and WATCH it open..ratz! Oh well, next time..didn't even look that well so we are thrilled! Debbie
tropicalfreak
16 years ago
Kate,
I would love to see a pic of the whole plant. Look really big! : )

Have you seen any bats at night when it blooms? : )

Cliff
solstice98
Original Author
16 years ago
Opening - around 11pm on June 5th.

Ants but no bats...

Cliff, it really isn't so large. This is just 3 years growth from a piece broken off another plant. It likes it here at the base of the shefflera, I guess, because the mother plant isn't blooming at all this year.
In this picture you can see the blossoms that were cleanly sliced by the lawn care guys. I know I don't have time to take care of the garden and the lawn but this sort of thing makes me crazy.
solstice98
Original Author
16 years ago
About midnight
lynne_melb
16 years ago
Kate, wow is that pretty.
katkin_gw
16 years ago
Great photos,Kate. Did you see the skunk ape? He really exsists, right? LOL along with the two headed bug!
abendwolke
16 years ago
really an amazing flower. Maybe it needs to be higher up somewhere for bats to find it?

Evelyn
tony_k_orlando
16 years ago
Hi Kate,

great pics. When will you be holding that plant up over your head so the bats will find it ? We can come over and take pics of you doing this.

I have a plant like yours and one like Evelyn shows in her pic above. I thought they were both named the same common name, seems not though.

tony
solstice98
Original Author
16 years ago
Tony,
I was going to do that dance but when I looked it up (you can find anything on the web!) I discovered that the Come Hither Bat Dance is remarkably similar to the Come Hither Hurricane Dance! I was afraid I might not have the skills to pull it off and might slide (or shimmy) into the Hurricane Dance. I just didn't want to take that chance.
scents_from_heaven
16 years ago
Cliff, if you want a cutting I can mail you a rooted one. I have a large cutting ready to go. Just let me know. I do wonder about that skunk ape thingie as mine is on a screened in patio and a bat could not reach it. It would have to be the skunk thingie as he would have to open the door and come in. Hummmmmmmmmmmmm maybe a late night with camera? Thinkinggggggggggg Linda
skygardening
16 years ago
I have a Night Blooming Cereus. I was told that the blooms are on the stems, not the leaf. But I noticed in your pictures they look to be on the leaves. One leaf is sticking out almost longer than my plant. About 7" of stem and 15" of leaf. Should that be cut off and put in soil to re-root? Now I'm really confused on how to take care of it. If I am suppose to cut it off, where on the segment? I was also told that they liked to be root bound? Mine is one large stem and eight smaller stems around it, in about 16" pot. The large stem is 20" high, and the smaller ones are 6-9" high. There are about 25 leaves all together. Hope this makes since to someone.
solstice98
Original Author
16 years ago
For this plant, the blossoms come on the sides of the leaves, not on the stems. Not sure what happens with the other varieties. I believe the dragonfruit types have fruit/blossoms on the end of the down-pointing stems. Is that true?
Kate
katkin_gw
16 years ago
I thought I might mention, my night blooming one is on a screened lanai and blooms all the time, so I know it is not bats that pollinate it. Of course I never have seen the blooms, I can't stay up that late. lol
solstice98
Original Author
16 years ago
Well, the blooming isn't dependent on pollination, just any fruit that might result from the pollination.
vtandrea
16 years ago
I was just given this plant by a neighbor who is in Singapore for a year. From what I've read on the web, what appears to be "leaves" are really flattened stems! I'm hoping I can get this gift plant to bloom eventually.
beth7happy
16 years ago
you know...I think I have two of these from cuttings that a client gave me last year. They've just been sitting in pots on the patio for a year!! What should I do (or have already done!) with them??? repot? sun shade ???
abendwolke
16 years ago
Kate, the cutting you gave me at your last swap has set buds, and I paid attention to this thread and moved the plant out of the lawn guy's way ;-)

Evelyn
rene09
16 years ago
I have one of those, it had over 20 blossoms on it last month & I did not see a one open. completely forgot it!!! It is setting more buds now, mabe I will see some of them!
rabbitkovatch_aim_com
12 years ago
how do you care for this plant? sun? water? food? better in a pot or the ground (Daytona Beach) thanks
stefpix
12 years ago
Mine has just opened its first bloom. Someone sent me some cuttings I think early spring, I left it outside on my fire escape, a bit shaded by other plants. Did not really pamper it at all. And it bloomed tonight. I thought it would bloom in a few weeks. Looks like the species, but I thought I read it blooms in the spring. A bit off season?
stefano
apeach4jessie
12 years ago
This plant thrives on neglect. They bloom best when they are rootbound in the pot. So if you are being kind to the plant and not seeing any blooms it is possible that you are treating it too well. The only thing you really NEED to do for this plant is let it get slightly dry between waterings, keep it away from frost, and if you really MUST fertilize it use a balanced fertilizer with a low nitrogen content. I think one website recommends a 0-10-10.

Here is a link that might be useful: ehow

Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Night blooming cereus

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