(Cereus, Night-blooming Cactus)

This is among the oldest botanical names used for cactus, which first appeared in 1754. It was used to group all newly discovered upright branching types with distinctive ribs. Beginning as a catch-all genus, it was later split into other genera or its species moved there as more information was obtained about these unique New World succulents. As a result, older references to these cacti are almost always incorrect. Today there are about 25 species in the genus

Cereus produce very...

(Cereus, Night-blooming Cactus)

This is among the oldest botanical names used for cactus, which first appeared in 1754. It was used to group all newly discovered upright branching types with distinctive ribs. Beginning as a catch-all genus, it was later split into other genera or its species moved there as more information was obtained about these unique New World succulents. As a result, older references to these cacti are almost always incorrect. Today there are about 25 species in the genus

Cereus produce very...

(Hedge Cactus, Night-blooming Cactus, Peruvian Apple Cactus, Queen-of-the-Night)

The Peruvian apple cactus is a widely adapted, tree-like cactus that produces beautiful, edible fruit. It is native to central South America but its exact area of origin is debated because it was cultivated and distributed by indigenous peoples early on.

This is a highly variable species, which may bear large spines or almost none along its eight vertical ribs. There are no leaves, but the green stems photosynthesize sunlight. Its large, green and white flowers are tubular, many petaled and...

(Mandacaru, Night-blooming Cactus, Pleated Cereus)

While grown for its foot-long (30 cm) nocturnal flowers, mandacarú is a large-growing, tree-like cactus. It is native to northeastern Brazil and is quite variable in form, size and presence of spines. Grow it as a houseplant when young, but expect it to become a huge, heavy plant specimen.

Mandacarú is a rather fast growing and upright with numerous vertical branches. There are no leaves, but the green stems photosynthesize sunlight. There are four to six ribs on each stem, and clusters of yellow...

(Candelabra Tuna Cactus, Night-blooming Cactus, Rose Cereus)

Nine-inch-long (22 cm), rosy pink, trumpet-shaped flowers grace the skinny, upright stems on Cereus stenogonus. This succulent cactus is native to the arid Chaco highlands of Paraguay and northern Argentina. It develops a thicket of vertical, slender stems, much like a cluster of pipes or flagpoles.

This tree-like cactus has two to three spines in clusters on the four or five ribbed stems. There are no leaves, but the slender, upright pale to blue-green stems photosynthesize sunlight....

(Jessamine, Newell's Red Jessamine)

Thought to be a hybrid between Cestrum fasciculatum and Cestrum elegans, this large tender evergreen shrub bears spectacular clusters of dazzling red blooms all along its arching branches. The tubular flowers continue in abundance throughout most of summer and fall, attracting hummingbirds. Flowering may continue through winter in mild climates. Red-purple berries follow the flowers. The downy, narrowly oval leaves are medium to dark green.

Plant this showy shrub in any well-drained...