Queen of the Night

Epiphyllum oxypetalum is native to southern Mexico and extending through Central America into northern South America.

• Found from southern Mexico (Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas) through Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and into Colombia and Venezuela
• Occurs at elevations from sea level to approximately 1,500 meters
• Grows as an epiphyte on tree trunks and branches in humid tropical and subtropical forests, or sometimes as a lithophyte on rocks
• The native habitat features warm temperatures, high humidity, and filtered light through the forest canopy
• Also reported from parts of the Caribbean, though its status as native or introduced there is uncertain
• First described by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as Cactus oxypetalus, later transferred to the genus Epiphyllum by the German botanist Adrian Hardy Haworth in 1829
• Has been in cultivation for centuries and is now found in tropical gardens worldwide
• Particularly revered in India, Southeast Asia, and China, where it has deep cultural significance
• The species has naturalized in parts of southern China, India, and tropical Asia

Epiphyllum oxypetalum is a large, branching epiphytic cactus with flat, leaf-like stems.

Stems (phylloclades):
• Flat, broad, leaf-like, 30 to 100 cm long and 5 to 10 cm wide
• Dark green, leathery, with undulate (wavy) or slightly toothed margins (not true leaves — these are flattened stems)
• Marginal notches bear small areoles that may produce fine bristles
• Main stems are cylindrical and woody at the base; secondary branches are flat and broad
• New growth emerges from the margins and tips of existing stems

Flowers:
• Enormous — 20 to 30 cm long and 15 to 30 cm in diameter when fully open
• Multi-layered: outer petals narrow, yellowish-green to bronzy; inner petals broad, pure white, overlapping
• Intensely fragrant — a sweet, spicy, jasmine-vanilla scent that can perfume an entire room or garden
• Open at approximately 9 to 10 PM, reaching full bloom by midnight, and begin to wilt by dawn
• Each flower lasts only a single night
• Pollinated in habitat by large sphinx moths and bats
• Produced from areoles along the stem margins, typically in late spring to mid-summer
• A single mature plant may produce multiple flowers over a period of several weeks

Fruit:
• Oblong to ellipsoidal, 5 to 8 cm long, greenish-purple to reddish when ripe
• Edible, with a sweet, mild flavor
• Contains numerous small, black seeds

Roots:
• Fibrous, relatively shallow — adapted to growing in leaf litter and organic debris in tree crotches

Size:
• Can develop into a large, sprawling plant 1 to 3 meters across in cultivation
• Pendulous stems are ideal for hanging baskets or elevated pots

Queen of the Night is a rewarding plant that thrives with basic epiphytic cactus care.

Soil:
• Requires a loose, well-drained, slightly acidic mix — a blend of orchid bark, perlite, and peat or coco coir works well
• Avoid heavy, compacted soils or pure garden soil
• Epiphytic roots need excellent aeration

Light:
• Bright, indirect light or dappled shade — replicating the filtered light of its forest canopy habitat
• Direct midday sun can scorch the flat stems, causing yellowing and sunburn
• Too little light results in weak, elongated growth and reduced flowering
• An east-facing window with morning sun is ideal indoors

Watering:
• Water regularly during the growing season (spring through autumn), keeping the soil lightly moist but never soggy
• Allow the top 2 to 3 cm of soil to dry between waterings
• Reduce watering in winter but do not allow the stems to shrivel excessively
• Mist the stems occasionally in dry indoor environments to increase humidity

Temperature:
• Thrives between 16 and 27°C; prefers warm, humid conditions
• Will not tolerate frost — protect below 10°C
• A period of cooler temperatures (10 to 15°C) and drier conditions in winter can promote flower bud formation

Fertilizer:
• Feed monthly during the growing season with a diluted, balanced fertilizer
• A bloom-boosting fertilizer (higher phosphorus) in early spring may encourage flowering

Flowering tips:
• Mature plants (3+ years old) are more likely to bloom
• A resting period in winter with cooler temperatures and reduced watering helps trigger bud formation
• Avoid moving or rotating the plant once buds appear, as this can cause them to drop
• Do not prune stems that have produced areole bristles — these are potential bloom sites