Night-blooming cactus confirmed growing wild in Kailua, Hawaii
iNaturalist: chrihi
Native Plants
If you've ever grown a night-blooming cereus for its one-night flower show, this sighting confirms the plant is tough enough to naturalize on its own in Hawaii's climate, escaping gardens and taking root along roadsides and hillsides.
Someone spotted a night-blooming cereus, a cactus famous for opening its huge white flowers only after dark, growing in a Kailua neighborhood on Oahu. The sighting was verified by other naturalists on iNaturalist, meaning experts agreed on the identification, which makes it a reliable record of where this plant is now growing outside of gardens.
Key Findings
Observation reached 'research grade' status on iNaturalist, meaning the identification was confirmed by community consensus
Species identified is Selenicereus undatus, commonly known as night-blooming cereus or dragon fruit cactus
Location documented as Kailuana Loop in Kailua, Hawaii, indicating naturalized or escaped growth in a residential/coastal area
chevron_right Technical Summary
A citizen scientist confirmed a night-blooming cereus cactus growing in Kailua, Hawaii, adding a verified data point to public records of where this dramatic, fragrant-flowering plant is establishing itself outside cultivation.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Night-blooming Cereus (Selenicereus undatus) observed in Kailuana Loop, Kailua, HI, US
Research-grade observation of Night-blooming Cereus in Kailuana Loop, Kailua, HI, US.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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Night-blooming cereus is the common name referring to many flowering ceroid cacti that bloom at night. The flowers are short lived, and in some of these species, such as Selenicereus grandiflorus, each flower blooms for a single night, though most put out multiple flowers over several weeks, each...