Snake cacti open their majestic flowers at night. With their slender tendrils, the bizarre Selenicereen conquer any climbing aid provided. We have looked around the noble cactus genus and put together a selection of the most beautiful species for you.
Which snake cactus species are particularly beautiful?
The most beautiful snake cactus species are Selenicereus grandiflorus (Queen of the Night), Selenicereus x Disoselenicereus fulgidus (Red Queen of the Night), Selenicereus pteranthus (Princess of the Night) and Selenicereus setaceus, all of which delight with impressive nighttime flowers and exotic scents.
Selenicereus grandiflorus – The Queen of the Night
This species is undisputed at the top of the ranking of beautiful snake cacti. Her breathtaking attributes make it clear why she deserves her title 'Queen of the Night':
- Large, fragrant flowers 30 cm long and up to 40 cm wide open at night
- Yellow or salmon-colored outer petals surround a wreath of white petals
- Climbing, up to 5 m long and 1 to 2.5 cm thick shoots
- Pink, 8 cm large, spherical fruits
The cactus societies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland bowed to such beauty by naming this species cactus of the year in 2009.
Selenicereus x Disoselenicereus fulgidus – Red Queen of the Night
Since the pure species of snake cacti bloom primarily white, knowledgeable breeders have tried to add more color to the flower display. The result is this red-flowering hybrid that otherwise has all the wonderful attributes of the White Queen.
Selenicereus pteranthus – Princess of the Night
With its huge, feathery flowers, this snake cactus species stands out impressively. The outer, yellowish, narrow petals frame the white to cream-colored flowers inside like a wreath of feathers. The royal appearance is rounded off by blue-green, purple-tinged, slender shoots with conical, hard thorns. As with all snake cacti, the flowers only open at night and exude an exotic scent.
Selenicereus setaceus – romantic flowers
From the lowlands of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, this species of snake cactus found its way into the hearts of German cactus fans. With its white, slightly frilled petals and reddish thorns on green epidermis, the species enchants with its nightly play of colors. At the end of the flowering period, red spherical fruits are formed that are beautiful to look at and edible.
Tip
The breathtaking genus of snake cacti not only impresses with its fascinating appearance. The beautiful species are also easy to care for. This includes, among other things, the fact that they like to spend the winter time in their usual, sunny window seat in the warm living room. Furthermore, they are one of the few cactus species that can easily make do with conventional flower fertilizer.
