I grew up using the name “moon flower” for this particular cactus, but it’s also known as “princess of the night” and “Honolulu Queen”, amongst other things.
The example shown here started as a piece of cactus about three feet long that my father got from somewhere and planted alongside the trunk of a mahogany tree. That was forty odd years ago. Now it is enormous and grows right up to the top of the mahogany tree and cascades down the trunk.
Every year, around this time, it flowers. A very significant occasion as it only flowers once a year, and the flowers are fully open between about 8 pm and 4 am, so you have to keep an eye on the flowers as they grow to know when to look out and see them in all their glory. Quite spectacular.
Like any cactus, the moon flower is hardy, and once it likes it’s location it will bloom regularly and thrive. The photos here do not do justice to the flowers as these weren’t quite fully open, but it gives you an idea. Each flower will be about 6 or so inches in diameter, and this particular plant will produce dozens of them that will all open on the same night - a very impressive spectacle.
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