RARE CACTUS FLOWER ONLY BLOOMS ONE NIGHT A YEAR
Epiphyllum Oxypetalum is a popular species of cactus, famous for producing large, fragrant, white flowers only one night per year.
“Queen of the Night” is its nickname, one that fits the plant perfectly. Unlike several other species which also bloom at night, producing large, fragrant flowers over several weeks, Epiphyllum Oxypetalum only blooms one night a year, and just for a couple of hours; its large flowers bloom and wither before sunrise.
A Queen of the Night bloom is a rare event, one that draws crowds of flower enthusiasts to the jungles of Mexico, Central America, and the Antilles for a chance to witness it in person.
It is such a rare event that even owners of these plants consider themselves lucky to have seen it just once in their lives. Some have never seen the event, despite growing the cactus for years.
Figuring out when the flowering of this cactus is going to occur is a tough challenge, but according to most sources, the event occurs on spring or summer nights. Some say it happens on nights with a full moon or around such times, while others say the plant blooms after heavy rains.
Adding to the allure and reputation of the Queen of the Night, the large, waxy flowers are said to be some of the most fragrant in the world, drowning the air around them with an irresistible aroma. Sadly, it only lasts for one or two hours, after which the impressive flowers start to wither. The scent of this elusive flower is often compared to that of magnolia or gardenia flowers.
For most of the year, this plant, aka the orchid cactus, looks like a giant cluster of cactus stems, either crawling on the ground or climbing on a support, but for one night a year, all of its flowers open at the same time to maximize pollination chances, and it truly turns into a “Queen of the Night.”
The flowers of the orchid cactus only open at night because bats are the plant’s main pollinator, but scientists have yet to establish why this only occurs one night per year.
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