My turn for a photo. This is a rather rare, rather odd lily. I brought back a cutting from Hong

M

Marg CDN

Well-known member
Kong in 1989. It was to bloom the night we were to go out with a friend there. So we all watched it open first. I carried a small cutting in a shoe, throughout Thailand, back to HK and finally 2 weeks later, to home. It survived.

It's called a Night-Blooming Cerius. (I may have spelled cerius incorrectly)

It has not bloomed for us for 10 years now and needs the right combination of hot sun, attention and humidity. The bud opens at night over a period of about 2 hours. We have had blooming parties in the past as we all watched it open.

The scent is not to be believed. The bloom opens to about 10" across and is closed up and droopy the next morning.

https://recipeswap.org/fun/wp-content/uploads/Finer_Kitchens/Marg%20Cdn/Christmas06andHKplant07020.jpg

https://recipeswap.org/fun/wp-content/uploads/Finer_Kitchens/Marg%20Cdn/Christmas06andHKplant07047.jpg

 
oh Marg, thank you for the picture! they are amazing. the first time I saw one

was at rustic resturant on a lake in Vermont and a full moon. we walked in and there was the most beautiful fragrance filling the room. I asked what it was and they showed me the flower, that had just opened. I was awed. it was also the evening that my beau told me he loved me for the first time. thank you for bringing that memory back.

it may be cirus but I'm not sure. they are available in this country too. (obviously) I hope it blooms for you every year and fills your home with the fragrance of love!

 
oh my goodness, what a beauty. did you just root the cutting in water?

I didn't know you could start lilies that way. Do they bloom for just the one night?

 
Lordy, that is gorgeous!

I'm guessing that I may never have such a beauty in my garden.
I feel blessed that my angel trumpet is loaded with blossoms. I'm hoping that I can winter it over in the basement and get a repeat performance next year.

 
It is really a cactus--you can start them all sorts of ways. . .

divide the roots, leaf cutting, offset. Google
"night blooming cereus."

Does anyone remember the Dennis the Menace show when Dennis kept Mr. Wilson from seeing the night blooming cereus open and bloom?

 
Marg this is incredible, it is I believe a sort of cactus....

my nursery man once suggested I get some of these plant some years back and as they looked sort of skinny and scraggly and I really didn't think I'd wait up all night to spot the flower, I turned them down...GEEEEEE...I shouldn't have.....I am going to see if there are any more around.
How extraodinary!

 
unless i'm very mistaken it's an epiphyllum oxypetalum, technically a cereus.

i remember them vividly as dad's always been a cactus and succulent grower and one of my early spring chores evey year was to help my sibs, bev and jack lug his large collection from the attic to the front yard to get the necessary temperature differences and sunlight to bloom. then, of course, lug them back up with the next frost warning. etc.

i remember that it was frowned upon to break them and many were nigh on as tall as we were and armed with vicious stickers.

the epiphyllum oxypetalum was always my favorite because of the spectacular blooms and lack of stickers.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g9/rvb_2006/cgkathy_2002-05-09_554.jpg

 
WOW! What a great story...I had no idea. I love the idea of a blooming party. smileys/smile.gif

 
Martg, check out Dave's Garden, there is a whole forum dedicated to these

The colors and variety are unbelievable. I had a collection of them but they got left behind in San Diego. They are gorgeous aren't they!

 
When I was googling on the internet, seems there is a group in Fl that does the same thing. They

all bring lawn chairs and sit around watching.

 
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