Night-blooming cereus (probably Epiphyllum) in my sister’s yard, 17 August 2026, 8:47pm (photo by Kate St. John)

18 August 2026

My sister has a night-blooming cereus plant that produces beautiful flowers with a lovely scent. Each flower lasts only one night. The bud begins to open after sunset, it’s in full bloom around midnight and begins wilting right after that.

Night-blooming cereus is the common name for many night-blooming plants that behave like this. My sister’s plant appears to be an Epiphyllum sp, native to Central and South America.

Last night at 8:45pm the plant was in bud, pictured at top.

After the midnight thunderstorm passed, my sister went out at 1:10am to photograph it in full bloom.

Night-blooming cereus (probably Epiphyllum) in my sister’s yard, 18 August 2026, 1:11am (photo by Mary Mitchell)

This morning it is closed and wilting.

The morning after. Flower is wilting, 18 August 2026, 7:12am (photo by Kate St. John)

If we had the time and equipment to photograph it all night, here’s what it would have looked like.