orchid cactus , also hump as orchidaceous plant cacti , are large , succulent flora with prospicient , flat , leafless stems that produce breathtaking bloom .
There are many unlike species that go by the name “ orchid cactus , ” as well as yard of colourful hybrids to tempt the houseplant fan or orchid cactus gatherer .
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Various members of the Hylocereeae tribe. Photo by Kristina Hicks-Hamblin.
I ’ve cultivate a list of 23 dissimilar selections to give you a tactile property for these entrancing folio cacti and acquaint you to some you might need to consider growing yourself !
Here ’s a peek at our listing :
23 of the Best Epiphyllums for Home Gardeners
We ’re going to interpret the term “ orchid cactus ” broadly for the purposes of this roundup , include three different type of plants : members of theEpiphyllumgenus , some species that wereformerlyclassified in the genus , and epiphyllum hybrids .
I ’ll let you know what eccentric of epiphyllum we ’re dealing with for each pick . but first , a lilliputian more on these distinction so that you could empathise what to have a bun in the oven from each flora :
Epiphyllumis a genus that presently includes nine or 10 dissimilar specie , reckon on who you ask .
However , several species that were once include within this genus have since been reclassify and placed in other genera such asSelenicereusorDisocactus . ( I ’ll forgive you – and even applaud you – if you want to join me in secretly thinking of that last one as “ disco cactus . ” )
Despite their new scientific names , these members of the Cactaceae family and the Hylocereeae tribe are still wide touch on to as orchid cactus .
in conclusion , hybrid orchid cactus cultivar are bred for big , showy , colorful blooms . Some of these hybrid haveEpiphyllumancestry , but others may be crosses ofSelenicereusorDisocactusspecies , or specie of unlike genus .
Collectors and buff of these cacti call them “ orchid cactus ” or “ epis , ” for light , nonetheless .
What we’renotgoing to include in our selection today is plants that were formerly classified in a whole differentEpiphyllumgenus .
The short story on thisotheruse of this botanical name is this : two botanists had the same great idea for a name , but theyweren’ttalking about the same plants – or to each other – when they separately make out up with that name .
Those plant life are members of theSchlumbergeragenus , whose most famous interpreter you ’ll recognize by the common name “ Christmas cactus . ”
If you ’d like to check and care for Christmas cacti , translate our gross pathfinder .
Let ’s also cover a little flower anatomy before we stab into our epiphyllum option so you’re able to fully appreciate the big blooms on these plant – the lesson will be shortsighted , I call !
orchid cactus tend to produce exceptionally great blooms , and that means all the distinguishable parts of the flower are much more pronto visible than what you might see in other types of blossoms .
In the photo above , which portray anEpiphyllumbloom with narrow blanched petals , you’re able to see a yellowed mark and pinkish mode ring by frail livid stamens .
Now you ’ll know what I ’m verbalize about when I use those terms moving forward .
That ’s it ! example over .
For each of our natural selection , I ’ll have you know what to expect in terms of the color , shape , and arrangement of the flower petal , as well as the color of stigma , style , and stamens .
You ’ll also teach about foliage and growth drug abuse , though I ’ll go ahead and let you know that in general , epiphyllum hybrids tend to be succinct in size , while the ripe size of species plant varies from one to the next , with some growing prodigiously .
And just a admonisher , we ’re not go to cover care needs in this clause , so if you ’d like counselling for staking , repotting , fertilizing , and encouraging efflorescence in these plant , as well as bakshish on general pauperism like water and sun photograph , be certain tocheck out our complete scout to growing orchid cactus .
And now commence our excursion into the realm of the orchid cacti !
1. Ackermannii
Our first selection is commonly known as “ red orchid cactus . ”
Although this species used to be separate as a fellow member of theEpiphyllumgenus , E. ackermanniihas since been reclassified to the closely relatedDisocactusgenus , and is now known botanically asD. ackermannii .
Red orchid cactus blooms in the springtime , carry scarlet red , funnel shape - shape flush that reach five inches across or more . These are delicately scented , and last for a few twenty-four hour period before evanesce .
The stem turn of violent orchidaceous plant cactus reach seven column inch to three foot long , and have big venous blood vessel and undulating to toothed margins . These stems display upright growth before trailing down .
In 2012 , this coinage received the Royal Horticultural Society ’s Award of Garden Merit .
D. AckermanniiRed Orchid Cactus in 6 ” Pot
Interested in purchasing a specimen of your own ? You ’ll observe a live , red - floweredD. ackermanniiorchid cactus in a six - inch potfrom Bubble Blooms via Walmart .
2. American Sweetheart
‘ American Sweetheart ’ is an orchid cactus intercrossed with gorgeous pinkish and gilded - pink blooms .
blossom are excess - large , reaching nine inch encompassing or more , and have a loving cup and saucer form , with pink inside petals and golden - pink out flower petal . The stain and stamens of this cultivar are cream biased .
‘ American Sweetheart ’ has flat stems and grows well in a hanging basket .
3. Anguliger
ordinarily called “ zag cactus ” or “ fishbone cactus,”Disocactus anguligeris another mintage that has been kick out from theEpiphyllumgenus .
Also antecedently relegate asCereus mexicanus , which is considered a synonym , sports fan of forest cacti will frequently see this species referred to asE. anguliger .
Its flat , wide stem are deeply lob , making one think of the skeleton of a fish – or of ricrac ribbon , which give procession to another common name , “ ric rac cactus . ”
This species abide intermediate - sized flowers that measure five to seven inches across .
Inner petals are blanched to cream coloured , broad and imbrication , skirt by halcyon to golden brown , narrow-minded tabu petals . Stigma , stamen , and style are all white .
These flowers bloom at night and are short lived , remaining open for 12 to 24 hr .
D. anguligergrows well in a hang basket and has prolific leafage , which can grow several feet long .
D. AnguligerSet of 3 in 4 ” Pots
To add this species to your aggregation , you ’ll find a Seth of threeD. anguligerfishbone plants in four - inch potsfrom California Tropicals via Amazon .
memorise more about grow and caring for fishbone cactus in our article . ( coming presently ! )
4. Anthonyanus
Our next selection is commonly visit “ fishbone cactus . ”
Are you getting a feeling of déjà vu ?
Glad to know you ’re paying attention – yes , that common name should vocalise very conversant ! I suppose the world is big enough for two fishbone cacti , is n’t it ?
Along with yield a unusually close-fitting resemblance to the previous selection , this mintage ( Selenicereus anthonyanus)shares additional common names with that other fishbone cactus – “ ric rac cactus ” as well as “ zigzag cactus . ”
WhileS. anthonyanuswas never class botanically as anEpiphyllum , it is often confused with its lookalike and is ofttimes referred to as an orchid cactus .
S. anthonyanushas long , flat stems that are deeply lob , with a fishbone shape . equate toD. anguliger , the lobes are sharper and less rounded – but only on more fledged stems !
Younger specimen of these two species can be highly hard to distinguish from each other base on their foliage .
The blooms ofS. anthonyanusare medium - sized , reaching five to seven inches across , and are short lived , opening for one night a yr .
This species ’ fragrant flowers have narrow petals , with ointment and xanthous inner petals and outer petals that are reddish purpleness . The yellowish stamens on these heyday are shorter than those of our other natural selection , and the rosiness ’s style and stigma are ashen .
This species will flourish with more direct sunshine than the other orchid cactus described here , and is considered a shy foul-up .
Selenicereus Anthonyanusin 6 ” sess
you could find anS. anthonyanusfishbone cactus in a six - in potfrom the House Plant Shop via Walmart .
5. Apache Magic
‘ Apache Magic ’ is an attractive , orange- and pink - flowered epiphyllum loanblend .
flower have a loving cup and saucer form and are declamatory , with wide , overlap petals .
petal are orangish with live pink leeway , surrounding cascading stamens , a creamy pinkish style , and a livid stain .
The foliage of ‘ Apache Magic ’ has both flat and triangular increase .
6. Chrysocardium
usually know as “ fern leaf cactus ” or “ shark tooth cactus , ” this species suffers from a spot of an personal identity crisis – or at least , botanists have bestowed it with one .
According to theRoyal Horticultural Society , the prescribed classification of this mintage is unresolved .
Perhaps it ’s anEpiphyllumspecies . Or perhaps it ’s more closely related toS. anthonyanus , the purple - flowered fishbone cactus we encounter above .
Call itSelenicereus chrysocardiumorE. chrysocardium ; either way , this cactus is commonly advert to as an orchid cactus .
This species has long , flat stem that are deeply lobate and look like the foliation offerns .
Its flowers are eight inches panoptic , with broad , overlap , white inner flower petal and narrow-minded livid and pink outer petal . The white to pale chickenhearted stigma is surrounded by golden stamens , which give this plant life another common name , “ golden heart orchid cactus . ”
Plants have a hang back growth wont , with stems hand up to six feet long . This metal money is well suitable for hanging baskets , and is considered a shy foul-up .
S. Chrysocardiumin 6 ” peck
You ’ll find anS. chrysocardiumshark tooth cactus useable for purchase in a six - in potfrom California Tropicals via Amazon .
7. Clown
‘ Clown ’ is a colorful epiphyllum intercrossed with tricolored blossom .
Flowers have a cup and discus form and are expectant , contact seven to nine inches wide .
Outer petal are minute and red , forming spokes around broad , overlapping privileged petals that are white with raspberry veining and midstripes . The stigma , style , and stamen of ‘ Clown ’ are white .
This hybrid is prone to spotting , a in the main cosmetic issue that impress epi foliation , and specially sure hybrids .
8. Connie Mayer
‘ Connie Mayer ’ is an orchid cactus hybrid whose extra - large , purple blooms are light lived but make a long - last impingement .
The imperial petals of its prime are narrow-minded but abundant , resemble the purple run of fireworks as they explode . The intimate petals of ‘ Connie Mayer ’ are Battle of Magenta to purple , circumvent by slightly colored out petal .
The way is violet , stigma is white to yellow , and stamens are yellow .
The flowers of this dark - bloom epiphyllum last one night only , but they are huge , ranging in size of it from nine to 14 inches across-the-board .
Stems are three - sided on plants that turn to be very large .
‘ Connie Mayer ’ is a cross ofSelenicereus undatusandS. stenopterus .
9. Crenatus
Known as the “ crenate orchid cactus , ” this former member of theEpiphyllumgenus is now classified asDisocactus crenatus .
Bearing delicately scented white flowers , E. crenatumandCereus crenatusare consider synonyms for this coinage .
Blooms are funnel shaped with broad white flower petal , and can reach eight inches wide .
In fountain or summer , D. crenatusbears day - bloom flowers , which remain open for a few years .
Foliage grows upright then weeps , growing up to 10 feet long , with flattened stems that are two column inch wide .
This specie has been widely used by epiphyllum hybridizers .
10. George French
‘ George French ’ is a cheery epiphyllum hybrid named after a world - renowned epiphyllum hybridizer .
The fragrant blooms of this cultivar have pale white-livered inner petals transitioning to darker sensationalistic outer flower petal .
Flowers have an open physical body and are medium - sized , valuate four to six inches wide .
These plants have an upright growth substance abuse .
11. Guatemalense
Guatemalan orchid cactus is anEpiphyllumsubspecies , classified asE. hookerissp.guatemalense , that is grown more for its unusual foliation than for its flowers .
Also known as “ curly locks orchid cactus ” or “ curly sue , ” this species has wavy stanch that wait like thick locks of hair , particularly in more fledged specimens with long staunch that sophisticate and deform as they trail .
This subspecies was formerly classified asE. guatemalense , which is consider a equivalent word . Some source also touch on to it asE. guatemalense‘Monstrose . ’
Its wavy stems have prominent midrib , and expect blooms that are three inches wide and white , which open up at night . Flowers give path to rounded , pinkish fruit .
Curly LocksE. Hookerisubsp . Guatemalensein 6 ” weed
You ’ll find a curly locks specimen in a six - in pot available for purchasefrom the House Plant Shop via Walmart .
you may learn more about mature curly ringlet orchid cactus in our clause . ( get along before long ! )
12. Hookeri
cognise by the plebeian name “ Hooker ’s orchid cactus,”E. hookeriis a species in theEpiphyllumgenus .
It was formerly sort out asCereus hookeriandE. phyllanthusssp.hookeri , which are considered equivalent word .
White bloom are tumid , pass seven to nine inches across , and are unscented or have a very delicate fragrance .
Blooms are rack mold , with minute , address - like petals , surrounding snowy stamen and a bright pink flair with a yellow stigma .
Hooker ’s orchid cactus blooms for one Nox a twelvemonth in spring , summer , or fall , and produces brilliant pinkish fruits .
The wavy - margined stem turn of this species can attain six to 10 feet long – or sometimes more – and can be both flat and trilateral shaped .
Hooker ’s Orchid Cactus Cuttings
You ’ll regain Hooker ’s orchid cactus cuttings useable for purchasefrom Vicky ’s Garden via Amazon .
13. King Midas
‘ King Midas ’ is an orchid cactus hybrid with dazzle golden - Orange River efflorescence .
The large flowers have a loving cup and saucer pattern , measure seven to nine column inch all-embracing , and stay on the plant life for three to four days .
Petals are salmon to orange with a dismal orange midstripe , fence in a creamy stigma and stamens , and pink elan .
Plants have an upright growth habit and are setaceous .
14. Kiwi Razzle Dazzle
With bloom so full of petal , you might mistake the flowers of orchid cactus loan-blend ‘ Kiwi Razzle Dazzle ’ for those of a dahlia .
Large flowers have multiple rows of overlap petals . Inner petals are purple with weak pinkish edges , and out rows are orange with purple - pink edges .
The stigma and stamen of this epiphyllum are blank .
plant life have an erect growth habit , with both flat and triangular stem .
15. Laui
E. lauiis a member of theEpiphyllumgenus that has funnel - form flowers .
Blooms have broad , overlapping , white inner petals with golden brown outer petals , blooming in leap or summer .
Flowers open in the eventide and are short subsist , stay on open for just about two days .
E. lauican take a very long time – sometimes many years – to flower . When it does , this coinage then produces fruit that are red-faced to knock .
Plants are quite compact , reaching 12 inches grandiloquent and 20 in all-embracing , and can be burred .
The stems ofE. lauiare slick magazine and tinct with bolshy . These have prominent midribs , and scalloped or wavy margins .
16. Madras Ribbon
‘ Madras Ribbon ’ is an eye - catching orchid cactus hybrid with bicolored blooms .
Broad , wavy inner petals are hopeful pink with a darker pinkish midstripe , while outer petals are dark pink with feathery orange midstripes .
The leafage of this orchid cactus is flat and broad , with wavelike margins .
17. Oxypetalum
Queen of the night , orE. oxypetalum , is the most well - known member of theEpiphyllumgenus .
E. oxypetalumblooms in springiness or summertime , suffer heavy , short - lived flowers that last only one night , fading by morning .
Inner petal are blanched , broad , and overlapping , while outer petals are narrow and range in coloring material from pick to golden brown to tap .
Also sleep with as “ Dutchman ’s pipe , ” this coinage is a surpassing agriculturist , with stems that can be up to five inches panoptic and can produce to be over 10 foot in length . radical grow upright before trailing down , and produce secondary branches .
poof of the night will be perfectly content in a hanging field goal , and makes an excellent houseplant . Plants will require staking for an unsloped display
Also known as “ night - blooming genus Cereus ” and “ lady of the dark , ” this species shares these common name with another “ queen of the night ” from a unlike genus and clan – Cereus peruvianus , a desert coinage that has different fear needs than our forest species .
you’re able to learn more about this desert species in our article onC. peruvianus . ( coming soon ! )
E. OxypetalumQueen of the Night Plant
look for an orchid cactus nance of the night specimen ? You ’ll ascertain one in a grower ’s potfrom the Easy to Grow memory via Amazon .
For more tips on caring forE. oxypetalum – read our article on develop world-beater of the night . ( coming presently ! )
18. Pegasus
With multicolored blooming , ‘ Pegasus ’ is an enchanting orchid cactus loanblend .
Flowers have broad inner petals that are purple with an orangish - blood-red midstripe and outer petals that are bronze violet .
The flower of this orchid cactus interbreeding are extra large , assess nine inches wide or more , and have a funnel frame , opening wide around pick - colored stigma , style , and stamens . blossom last one to two days .
The crying ontogenesis drug abuse of ‘ Pegasus ’ makes it well suited for hang baskets .
19. Phyllanthoides
Disocactus phyllanthoidesis a specie plant life bed by thecommon name “ German empress . ”
This former phallus of theEpiphyllumgenus was previously classified asE. phyllanthoides , as well asNopalxochia phyllanthoidesandCereus phyllanthoides , which are now look at synonyms .
It is also known as “ pond lily cactus ” and “ empress . ”
German empress bears unscented flowers that are bell shaped to funnel shaped , with mid- and outer petal that are bright pinkish , and paler pink internal petals .
flower bloom during the daytime , primarily in spring , with some specimen flower three metre a year .
This species has weeping , flattened stems that typically rise to three feet farseeing , sometimes more . Stems have maneuver pourboire and serrated margins . These plants will grow beautifully in a pay heed basket .
20. Phyllanthus
A appendage of theEpiphyllumgenus , E. phyllanthusis also known as “ climbing cactus . ”
This species bear modest , scented efflorescence that are white and two inches wide of the mark , opening at Nox .
The petals ofE. phyllanthusare narrow-minded and short . The verboten petal are greenish white and inner petals are cream to white , besiege a pink or white trend , and white stain and stamens .
The fruits of this speciesare ribbed , oblong , and bright Red River or purpleness .
With a climbing habit in the wild , the ramification stems ofE. phyllanthuscan reach up to 10 feet long , have blunt tips , and sometimes show violet gross profit margin .
21. Pumilum
Also know as “ bloodless Christmas,”E. pumilumis a fellow member of theEpiphyllumgenus .
This mintage produces dark - blooming blossom that are white and small to medium sized , measuring two to five inches all-inclusive .
The internal petals ofE. pumilumare broad , form a funnel shape , while outer petals stand out like wheel spoke .
The blooms last for one to two days and appear in summer or early fall , on separate stems that can reach 18 feet farsighted .
The stems bulge out off upright but then take on a pendulous growth habit , wee this plant life suitable for a hanging basket .
22. Punchbowl
With its enthralling tricolored flower , ‘ Punchbowl ’ is an orchid cactus loan-blend that may make you feel light-headed .
Broad overlap mid - petal are purple , with livid inner petal and red verboten flower petal .
Each petal has a light colored midstripe . The stigma , style , and cascading stamens of this hybrid are clean .
23. Unforgettable
‘ Unforgettable ’ is an orchid cactus intercrossed with opulently hued , double , tricolored blooms .
Broad , overlapping petal are dark red to purpleness , with privileged flower petal tinged with white .
The flowers of this orchid cactus are with child , with a cup and saucer contour . They have a white stigma and stamen , and pinkish styles .
Plants reach one to two feet marvelous and are suitable for flow baskets .
Stamens and Petals and Stems, Oh My!
With their luxuriant , succulent foliage and their extravagant blooms , whichever epiphyllum you favour , you ’re sure to delight in these species and hybrid .
Iflearning about cacti and succulent takes you to your happy place , you ’re in fate ! We have more interpretation for you justly here :
pic by Kristina Hicks - Hamblin © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . intersection photos via Bubble Blooms , California Tropicals , the Easy to Grow Store , the House Plant Shop , and Vicky ’s Garden . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Kristina Hicks - Hamblin
