# Night-Blooming Cereus (*Hylocereus undatus*)

The Night-Blooming Cereus is a magical plant that blooms only at night, releasing a sweet fragrance. Its flowers are large and white, attracting moths and bats to pollinate them.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 10
- **Habitat:** Desert
- **Also known as:** Cereus, Night-Blooming Cactus

![Night-Blooming Cereus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Starr_030702-0004_Hylocereus_undatus.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starr_030702-0004_Hylocereus_undatus.jpg)

## Appearance

The Night-Blooming Cereus has long, triangular, green stems that are often segmented and may have small spines along their edges. Its stunning flowers are trumpet-shaped, pure white, and exceptionally large, appearing only for a single night.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- It releases a sweet, strong fragrance that perfumes the night air.
- Its magnificent flowers last only a few hours after opening at dusk!
- Some call it "Queen of the Night" for its fleeting, grand display.
- The delicious dragon fruit comes from this very plant.

## Special abilities

- **Nocturnal Bloom:** Night-Blooming Cereus can open its huge white flowers only at night to attract specific nocturnal pollinators like bats and moths.
- **Water Storage Stems:** Night-Blooming Cereus has fleshy, succulent stems that allow it to store water, helping it survive in dry environments.
- **Climbing Adaptability:** Night-Blooming Cereus can use aerial roots to cling and climb walls or trees, reaching for sunlight and support.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-1200 cm
- **Spread:** 100-500 cm
- **Flower Size:** 15-30 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to early fall nights
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Bat

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Pallas's long-tongued bat (*Glossophaga soricina*) — Attracted by nectar and scent
- **Pollinates:** Tobacco hornworm moth (*Manduca sexta*) — Its long proboscis reaches deep nectar
- **Eats:** Seba's short-tailed bat (*Carollia perspicillata*) — Consumes its fruit, dispersing seeds

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [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.
- [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Admire this plant from a distance and avoid touching it.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Night-Blooming Cereus?

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 Night-Blooming Cereus?

50-1200 cm

### How wide does Night-Blooming Cereus spread?

100-500 cm

### How big are the flowers on Night-Blooming Cereus?

15-30 cm

### When does Night-Blooming Cereus bloom?

Summer to early fall nights

### Is Night-Blooming Cereus edible?

Yes

### Is Night-Blooming Cereus toxic?

None

### What is Night-Blooming Cereus's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/amy-b-h-greenwell-ethnobotanical-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden
- [Kahanu Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kahanu-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden
- [Chinatown](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chinatown) — Hawaii, US · Neighborhood
- [Foster Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/foster-botanical-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden
- [Kawai Nui Marsh](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kawai-nui-marsh) — Hawaii, US · Park
- [Merchant Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/merchant-street-historic-district) — Hawaii, US · Historic District

[View all places to see Night-Blooming Cereus](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/night-blooming-cereus)

## 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*)

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Source: [Night-Blooming Cereus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/night-blooming-cereus)