PlantFiles: Climbing Cactus, Hooker's Orchid Cactus
Epiphyllum hookeri

An ex-girlfriend left this plant at my house, I left it outside for two years and basically forgot about it in it's pot, it dried out, froze, roasted by the sun, etc. and now blooms every 15 days or so, of course now I water it once a week, but the blooms are definitely worth any effort put into growing this plant. When it blooms, my plant gives off a very sweet fragrance.

One thing I've noticed about my plant, the blooms always face south... Anyone else notice this?

I really like this plant, and I'm giving cuttings to friends. I've found it to be easy to grow, even for us guys who aren't really into it. :)

I got this plant as a gift in late May, it have buds on it, I place it on my patio which only receive morning sun. since then, it bloom four times, each time with 4-20 flowers. Very easy to propagate from leaf cuttings. I even place several leaves in my vase and they still look happy now.

More synonyms of this plant are Cereus latifrons & Phyllocactus hookeri.

I now know what I thought was. E. oxypetalum in my orchid cactus garden is really E. hookeri. Bloom petals are much narrower than E. oxypetalum and there is no odor to the blooms, which start in early afternoon and finish by late morning the follwoing day. A tough plant that stays outdoors for me even when nights drop into the high 30's here in N. Florida. the foliage alone is impressive with some leaves on this specimen approaching 4 ft. in lenght and a relatively "neat" appearing plant for an epiphyllum.

I've had this plant for years, one of my favorites! Very easy to grow, likes partial sun or shade. Does not bloom in deep shade, but the plant itself thrives. Will turn reddish if too much sun. When it does bloom, it's a showstopper!

I've grown this plant for 3 yrs. from a plant my mother has had for 25-30 yrs. The large white blooms normally last from 3 a.m. until 9 a.m. and usually occur (2-3 at a time) in June and again in July/August. I plant cut or broken pieces immediately. It has thrived in both sun and shade, has been both very dry and very wet and survived a fall due to a broken hanging basket. Its now near my front door and as healthy and happy as ever. One of my favorite plants.

I received a cutting of this plant from my dad in 1988. For 10 years, I kept it in a small container indoors (not much sun), where it languished. Finally I repotted it and set it under my peach tree on the south side of the yard, so it receives dappled sunshine throughout the summer. It has grown like a weed since!!! That first year it bloomed in two sessions, late August and again in mid-October The average number of blooms per session varies from 5 - 40, with as many as 11 blooms opening in one night.

Since 1998 it has bloomed at least 3 times each summer season. The flowers have NO SCENT. I bring my Epiphyllum indoors once the nighttime temps get below about 45°-50° F.

I have had this plant for several years. A slow bloomer and blooms at night with flowers dying when the sun hits it. Have not had much luck with it blooming every year; about every 3 years. To reproduce, just lay on top of damp soil or plant cut or broken pieces in a pot. In very cold climates must go into a warm area in the wintertime. I live in a mild winter area, so therefore plant stays on patio all year long. Plant has only produced white flowers.