# Epiphyllum

Epiphyllums are beautiful flowering cacti that grow on trees in tropical regions. Their stunning flowers bloom at night and come in various colors like pink, white, and red.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Rainforest
- **Also known as:** Orchid Cactus, Phyllocactus

![Epiphyllum](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Epiphyllum_crenatum_kimnachii1MW.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Mats Winberg, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Epiphyllum_crenatum_kimnachii1MW.jpg)

## Appearance

The Epiphyllum has striking, flattened, leaf-like stems that are actually modified branches, often trailing or climbing. Its spectacular, waxy flowers come in vibrant shades of pink, red, orange, yellow, and white, making them look like orchids rather than cacti.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Caryophyllales
- **Family:** Cactaceae
- **Genus:** Epiphyllum

## Interesting facts

- Epiphyllum plants are known as "Orchid Cacti" for their lush, showy flowers!
- Many incredible flower colors exist because plant lovers created unique hybrids!
- Some species produce delicious, vibrant fruits, much like tiny dragon fruits!
- Though cacti, they have flat, leaf-like stems, not spiny ones, and love shade!

## Special abilities

- **Tree Dweller:** Epiphyllum can grow on trees high above the ground, absorbing moisture and nutrients from the air and rain, helping it reach sunlight.
- **Night Bloom:** Epiphyllum has flowers that often open only at night, using their strong fragrance to attract nocturnal pollinators like moths and bats.
- **Water Saver:** Epiphyllum uses a special way of breathing called CAM photosynthesis, which helps it save water in its rainforest home.
- **Fake Leaf:** Epiphyllum has thick, flattened stems that look like leaves, but they're actually modified branches, allowing it to photosynthesize efficiently.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-300 cm
- **Spread:** 30-150 cm
- **Flower Size:** 5-30 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late Spring to Early Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Tobacco Hornworm Moth (*Manduca sexta*) — Attracted to the sweet fragrance of night-blooming flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Lesser Long-nosed Bat (*Leptonycteris curasoae*) — Feeds on nectar from night-blooming Epiphyllum flowers.
- **Eaten by:** [Jamaican Fruit Bat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jamaican-fruit-bat) (*Artibeus jamaicensis*) — Consumes the edible, often brightly colored, fruits produced by Epiphyllum.
- **Pollinates:** Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (*Amazilia rutila*) — Some Epiphyllum species or cultivars are pollinated by hummingbirds.

## Traits

- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Night Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/night-blooming): Night blooming plants open their flowers after sunset, often to attract nocturnal pollinators with their scent and appearance.
- [Succulent](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/succulent): Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates.
- [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
- [Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rainforest): This habitat trait refers to species found in tropical rainforests, characterized by high annual rainfall, high biodiversity, and dense tree cover.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)
- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Avoid touching the spines of cacti and always admire them from a safe distance.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Epiphyllum?

Compare leaf arrangement, rosette shape, ribs, spines and flowers. Keep in mind that drought and strong sun can shift a plant's color and shape. Succulent Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Epiphyllum?

30-300 cm

### How wide does Epiphyllum spread?

30-150 cm

### How big are the flowers on Epiphyllum?

5-30 cm

### When does Epiphyllum bloom?

Late Spring to Early Summer

### Is Epiphyllum edible?

Yes

### Is Epiphyllum toxic?

None

### What is Epiphyllum's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

---

Source: [Epiphyllum: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/epiphyllum)