Don’t Take It Cereus
by Gretchen F. Coyle
Spreading up palms and through bushes, clinging to walls and scrambling over sandy soil, night-blooming cereus is a climbing cactus that thrives in central and south Florida. Hylocerus undatus is not popular with kids, who are easily cut by its deceptive spines, nor with gardeners when they attempt to cut it back or remove it. But the flowers never disappoint.
“….a naked, luminous, complicated flower.” Photo by Gretchen F. Coyle
Aerial roots spring from thick, woody, triangular stems with scalloped edges that are medium to dark green, depending on age. They are able to climb upwards of a dozen feet and spread three times that in width. A member of the Cactus Family, it is thought to have originated in Mexico or northern South American.
Buds form in spring, developing into almost bulb size before springing open. Magnolia-like white flowers pop out nightly, starting in late May and continuing most of the summer. Each bloom lasts but one night, dying off toward sunrise. The primrose-like fragrance is not soon forgotten.
These spiny vines can get out of control if you let them. Photo by Gretchen F. Coyle
Photographers vie for pictures of the large white flowers. Opening around 10 p.m., the spectacular blooms will be fully open around midnight. By daybreak they are wilting; the short show is over. Observers can see the progression from bud to spent flower.
After a flower dies, a green edible fruit forms that soon turns red. Names for these fruits include pitaya, strawberry pear and dragon fruit. Like with other cactus plants with prickly barbs, it is easier to buy the fruit than to pick it.
Propagation is easy. Plant stems in potting soil or just lay them on the sand. Seeds are also sold. No special care is necessary; but experts suggest using compost, frequent water, well-drained soil and fertilizer a few times a year. They prefer a bright location in indirect sun.
Indoors, night-blooming cereus will go from uninteresting to something that climbs up curtains and over furniture. Unless controlled, it will attach itself to everything and soon take over a whole room.
Author Eudora Welty formed the Night-Blooming Cereus Club in the 1930s in Mississippi. Taking a cue from the popular song, “Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries,” the club’s motto was “Don’t take it ‘cereus’; life’s so mysterious.” In The Golden Apples, Welty describes night-blooming cereus as “a naked, luminous, complicated flower.”
This is a great excuse for a party. Photo by Gretchen F. Coyle
Night-blooming cereus flowers are worth losing sleep over. When they are read to bloom, invite your friends and neighbors over for a late-night viewing.
Gretchen F. Coyle is the author of Inferno at Sea: Stories of Death and Survival Aboard the Morro Castle, available on Amazon.
© 2014 Gretchen F. Coyle. Originally published in Florida Gardening, Jun / Jul 2014. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.