If you want to witness the spectacular one-night bloom of “the Queen of the Night”, you need to wait a full year, as the night-blooming cereus blooms only a few times each year, and each time for one-night only. A member of the cacti family, a bud will appear and within a few weeks will be ready to unfold during the night. As daylight dims into night, this amazing flower begins to open, and unfurl into a large, beautiful, fragrant blossom. But enjoy it quickly – it will be gone tomorrow!
“And so for nights
we waited, hoping to see
the heavy bud
break into flower”
– Robert Hayden
This awkward, gangly plant is rather unattractive most of the year, but it is worth it to witness the spectacular bloom that occurs just a few times each summer. Typically we get one or two blossoms, but for a few years we have been rewarded with multiple blossoms all unfurling the same evening.
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