Queen of the Night
The Queen of the Night is an epiphytic spineless cactus that originates from the rainforests of Central America. It is considered to be epiphytic (a non-parasitic plant that use other plants as support while getting nutrients from surrounding air) as they grow in the treetops in their natural environment.
They are a rather ordinary cactus until the large elusive fragrant flowers bloom during early summer here in Sydney mostly during the night.
The flower colours range from white to pink to fire engine red, and have a faint vanilla fragrance.
Each flower generally only last one night; another flower blooms each evening over about three weeks until the flowering cycle is finished for the year.
These epiphytic spineless cacti grow well at our SLM properties. The pots in the courtyard at Vaucluse House and at Elizabeth Farm in Parramatta are where you will find them.
They are not too fussy with their environmental requirements but prefer filtered sunlight and a well-drained soil and they even don’t mind being a little bit root bound. Ensure you don’t over water them either as they prefer to be left dry during the winter which helps trigger spring/summer flowers.
If you are prepared to grow them they will strike easily from cuttings in a well-drained soil.
As they get taller they will probably need staking or you could even let them ramble through the canopy of a tree in your garden as a support.
Hoping you are lucky enough to see an Epiphyllum oxypetalum flowering this coming summer!
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Craig Field
Horticulturist
Craig is a qualified horticulturist with over 20 years hands on experience who from an early age always dreamed of becoming a gardener.After completing a chef’s apprenticeship he began his career in horticulture and has enjoyed the journey since then. Craig's experience includes; private estates, a large costal retirement village and grounds facilities management for large government infrastructure.His love of horticulture is diverse to say the least. Things like formal gardens, historic gardens with a cultural context (one of my absolute favourite is Gunnebo slott in Mölndal/Sweden), tropical plants, Peng Jing, Japanese influence and Nordic Forests.He has a broad interest in palms and cycads, camelias, bamboo, begonias, perennials, bromeliads, and heirloom vegetables and is slowly becoming an Orchid nut. He also loves our native flora and enjoy growing different things within that branch and sometimes feels the desire to grow rare tropical fruits.Aside from the plant world, Craig loves mid century design, 50s and 60s ceramics, being with my wife and family, long walks, stone masonry, cooking curries, baking sourdough bread, he loves the serenity of working in his own garden and far South Coast holidays when he can.
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