The Queen that blossoms while you're sleeping

Bronwyn Fackender has always had a green thumb. But to appreciate her current pride and joy, you have to be a bit of a night owl.

By day, the Queen of the Night is a pretty ordinary looking, spineless cactus, needing the support of other plants to keep it upright. But come night during summer she blossoms. Each flower can reach up to a whopping 20cm across, the blooms reminiscent of water lilies, their fragrance heavy with vanilla.

The flowers start to open on dusk, but do not fully open until after dark, with each blossom only lasting for one night.

We’re particularly lucky in Australia, as this plant often blooms over Christmas and New Year. Bronwyn reports that her Queen of the Night perfectly timed the simultaneous explosion of 13 flowers all on the one evening last year, when friends were visiting. “We all enjoyed their beauty,” she said.

She explains that while they’re very easy to look after, her own plant being gifted from a friend who had kept it in the same pot for 20 years, the trick is choosing the best spot to keep it in. “As the flowers only come out at night and are closed in the morning… you need to put it where you will see it.”

Other than that, they prefer filtered sunlight and not too much water. You can read more about this special plant here.