Queen of the Night, a very special kind of Orchid Cactus

Queen of the night. Epiphyllum oxypetalum. Photo - Robin Powell

Queen of the Night or Orchid Cactus, Epiphyllum spp. 

You have to stay up late to enjoy the opening of this extraordinary cactus, which is shaped like a majestic waterlily. If you are an early riser and usually early to bed - this plant is not for you! The queen of the night cactus flowers between dusk and dawn - for us she is the highlight of the party season.

White sweetly scented circular-shaped flowers with narrow petals adorn this nocturnal flowering species. Growth is flat and long with spineless branches that are modified stems. These become pendulous and drape, perfect for hanging pots. Flowers are large, white and fragrant. They like morning sun, light or filtered light, but dislike the hot afternoon sun and they leaves will tend to yellow in this position. 

Dazzling beauties. Photo - Yongkang Duan/Shutterstock.com

 

Size

About 2m, growing as a lanky shrub, making them useful for pots, courtyards and under windows.

 

Cultivation

Orchid cacti do best when allowed to grow through other shrubs (to prop them up) or through small trees like frangipani. They enjoy the heat and a little shade. We find them easy and undemanding to grow.

 

Origins 

In its natural state, this epiphytic cactus hails from tropical rain forests of Mexico, grows in the tree tops, and lives on the surface of other plants, hitching a ride up out of the gloomy jungle understorey. It takes nourishment from the environment, not the host plant; but from fallen leaves, bird droppings and dead insects.

 

Aerial waterliles. Photo - iSKYDANCER/Shutterstock.com

 

Special comments 

Orchid cactus come in many colours. Search out the hot pink and fire engine red for a dazzling display for Christmas and New Year entertaining. They grow best from leaf cuttings, which can simply be pressed straight into the garden bed. No need to root them first. 

 

Care 

Morning sun will increase flower numbers. Stems can become slightly yellow in strong light although some think this is a minor cost for an increase in beautiful flower blooms. They dislike over-watering and prefer mild winters. Keep slightly dry through cool weather and water more often in summer. Feed during spring with a mild liquid feed in the growth season to encourage more shoots and therefore more blooms. The leaves are modified stems, adapted to cling to the host tree as well as photosynthesize. 

 

We like them 

Epiphyllums are easy to grow in large hanging baskets or supported in a large pot with stakes or trellis. We like to grow our E. oxypetalum up into the branches of frangipani - as they flower at the same time. Epiphyllums are easy to grow in large hanging basket or supported in a large pot with stakes or trellis. We like to grow ours up the branches of frangipani - as they flower at the same time! We also have some growing down the side garden in a garden with filtered light along with begonia, cape angels, tropical rhodos, camellias, and liriope. We can see the buds appear from the kitchen window while we do the washing up!

E. stricta  Stricta does not spread to the same extent as some other commonly named ‘Queen of the Night’ species but gee whiz do they hang, with wavy seaweed like leaves that can drape 1.5m down. Flowers do persist well into the early morning unlike E. oxypetalum, we find they open until 10am and occur later in the season, sometimes well into autumn.

Luminous flowers lure nocturnal pollinators like moths. Photo - AJP/Shutterstock.com

Our favourite  

E. oxypetalum  This is not the tall cactus variety (which many people grow and also flowers at night), this Queen of the Night has long succulent green leaves and climbs trees if given the chance. This summer flowering cactus is the most widely cultivated species of the genus. A climbing perennial cactus, it is best positioned somewhere visible at night, as it flowers nocturnally, each flower but for one night only, with an intoxicating sweet fragrance. The flower is finished at dawn. Ours usually starts flowering at Christmas and can flower throughout January. If you are party people remember to check the buds as they swell when you come home at night - as it is disappointing to miss the divine waterlily-like flowers. 

 

Make new plants 

Propagate by cutting from the long flat arching stems. Allow it to dry out for a few days before planting into very well drained potting media. Keep slightly dry through cool weather and water more often in summer. Feed during spring during the growth season to encourage more long cane-like shoots and therefore more blooms.

 

Come to one of our Garden Clinic 'Cake and Cutting' Days and grab a free cutting! See Events!

Text: Linda Ross

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