Description
Epiphyllum oxypetalum | Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus
Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus, also commonly called Queen of the Night or Night-blooming Cereus, is a species of tropical, spineless cactus with large, flattened stems, and renowned for its large (8-inch), fragrant, white flowers that bloom only at night, reflecting the moonlight, attracting nocturnal pollinators like moths and bats. Native to Central America, this epiphytic plant blooms once a year during summer, opening after sunset and withering by dawn.
Queen of the Night prefers direct sunlight, however when it’s really hot, plants prefer partial shade during peak hours. The diffused light of a screen door or sheer curtain will imitate the dappled sunlight of a forest canopy. A little extra sunlight in early spring could inspire extra blooms come summer.
Though Epiphyllum oxypetalum likes humidity, it tolerates and thrives in an indoor low-humidity home environment, but can certainly benefit from misting or a humidifier. Plants typically reach a mature height of 8 to 16 feet in ideal conditions, while they can grow up to 20 feet in their native habitat. They are often maintained as potted, sprawling houseplants that usually span 3 to 10 feet in height. They often require vertical support (trellis) or space for their arching, leggy stems to sprawl.
Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus can tolerate more water than other cactus varieties, while also being drought tolerant. A light, well-draining soil amended with coco coir or sphagnum moss works great. Many of the plant’s roots pull moisture from the air, so it’s important the soil is as light as possible.
Regal and cascading, this tree-dwelling epiphyte cactus is a favorite among plant lovers for its huge, elegant, night blooming flowers, plus the flowers are edible.
Type: Perennial
Sun exposure: Full sun
Mature height: 8-10 ft
Mature width: 3-6 ft
Hardiness zones: 10-11
*Please note that we ship rooted plant orders out on Mondays or Tuesdays only.
The plant you receive will be one of the plants in the photos, or a similar one.
