A Cactus That Blooms At Night
July 2nd, 2008 by ComputerBob
Two nights ago, I helped Annamarie next door walk her dogs with two of her visiting grandchildren, Sierra and Ethan.
On our way back, as it was getting dark and we were a couple of blocks from home, we passed a cactus that has grown tall by climbing up the side of a palm tree. Most of the time, it looks very spindly, prehistoric and unattractive, but that night, it was beautiful. Annamarie explained that it’s a type of cactus that only blooms at night — and for only a couple of nights each year.
As soon as I got home, I grabbed my camera and quickly walked back to take several photos of it. Here are 3 of them:
When I checked it again the next day, the flowers were only half-open and appeared to be wilting already.
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September 19th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Dear ComputerBob,
That gorgeous plant looks like a night-blooming cereus. I did a little research just now, and was surprised to learn that another name for it is Queen of the Night (one of my favorite incense fragrances). If I understand correctly, it is related to dragronfruit. A gorgeous “hedge” of it grew atop the lava rock wall bordering the Wilder Avenue side of the Punahou School campus when I lived in Honolulu 25 years ago, and the fragrance in the evening was heavenly. I recall hearing that the original plant had been brought from Mexico long ago (ca. 1830s?).
Perhaps not all species are fragrant. In Hawaii, it is called panini, but I don’t know if that is for cactus in general; I’ve seen the word used in reference to prickly pear cactus, too. If you compare a prickly pear fruit to a dragonfruit, there’s a distinct similarity. My Mom started growing one at home in NJ, and to this day my family celebrates the blooming of the flowers.
Anyway, be sure to take a sniff the next time it blooms. Sublime…
Thanks for a wonderful, informative, and touching website. And to think that I “only” came over to read your Palm Pilot IIIxe review…
Aloha,
Elizabeth