My Night Queen

Hi,

Here I am posting some Night Queen bloomed at my residence. These are also called as Brahma Kamala. They have a peculiar feature. They bloom only during the night and emit strong heavenly fragrance. They droop down by early morning. Hence the name Night Queen. It looks like a white lotus. This is a very rare flower and normally flowers only once in a year and june / july happens to be the season.

This can be cultivated through a cutting and available with most nurseries.

This year we had the luck to witness almost 30 blooms together,,,,,,,, Just loved it. Wanted to share my happiness with my friends here.

There is a small story behind this plant at my house...... This cutting was brought by my mother from her friend's place and was planted in a pot, though the plant grew well not even it bloomed once. After my father's death, mother send all the plants to my house as she felt she could not take care of them in rented place. Hence this plant also became my heirloom. Luckily I think the plant liked me, hence it started flowering once it came here. One or two during the season. Last year it was 5 - 6 together and this year the crowning glory was 30 together.

Few more for the visual treat !

Dear lallu
Thank you so much for sharing the Brahma Kamalam flowers.. they are beautiful. They appear to be White in color. Is that always so?
Its interesting to read the story behind.
And glad to note they have a heavenly fragrance..
Inspite of a busy schedule you have posted the pictures Thank You.

Originally Posted by lalitha shivaguru

Few more for the visual treat !

What are those? buds are they brown in color???? so beautiful.

They are gorgeous !!!

Thanks for Sharing Lalitha... have heard about them, but never seen one till now :)

Thanks for sharing, Lalitha!
They are a real visual treat!
Is it known as Night queen?
I thought "Raat ka rani " flower was night queen.

Dear Lalitha,

Lovely blooms there! Like Usha even I thought Raat rani was the night queen that again has a heavenly fragrance.
Wow Brahmakamal is also called so? This is informative indeed.Infact its considered very lucky to have Brahmakamal flowers. Very nice Lalitha.Enjoyed seeing it!

Love,
Devika

Hi Lalitha,

Extraordinary and wonderful flowers ! Looks ravishing and has that ethnic beauty too !

So, is it the same flower as shared by Manju? Does this bloom once a year?

Looks like it needs to be preserved..if it is rare to give so many flowers...

Thanks for sharing..surely a treat for the eyes !

Cheers
Krithika

Hi Lalitha,
These flowers look beautiful....had never seen them before but heard about it. Can you plant it indoor and if you please tell me the English name, I could try to get one for myself here.
Thanks for sharing such beautiful pics.
Regards.

some more info:)

Selenicereus grandiflorus is a cactus species originating from the Antilles, Mexico and Central America. The species is commonly referred to as Nightblooming Cereus, Queen of the Night (though these two terms are also used for other species), Large-flowered Cactus, Sweet-Scented Cactus or Vanilla Cactus. The true species is extremely rare in cultivation. Most of the plants under this name belong to other species or hybrids.

English: Queen of the Night, Night-blooming Cereus, Large-flowering Cactus, Sweet-scented Cactus, Vanilla Cactus, Large Blooming Cereus, Large flowered torch thistle, Large-flowered Night Cactus

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Caryophyllales

Family: Cactaceae

Subfamily: Cactoideae

Tribe: Hylocereeae

Genus: Selenicereus

Species: S. grandiflorus


Binomial name
Selenicereus grandiflorus