night-blooming cereus
noun
night-bloom·ing cereus
ˈnīt-ˌblü-miŋ-
plural night-blooming cereus or night-blooming cereuses
: any of several cacti with usually large, white, fragrant, night-blooming flowers: such as
a
: a sprawling or climbing cactus (Selenicereus grandiflorus) found from Mexico to South America that has spiny, ribbed stems and pink to whitish spiny fruits
b
: an erect or sprawling slender-stemmed, thorny cactus (Peniocereus greggii synonym Cereus greggii) that is native to the southwestern U.S. and adjacent parts of northern Mexico and has spiny red fruits
c
: any of several cacti (genus Hylocereus) including one (H. undatus) cultivated especially for its usually pink- or red-skinned fruit see dragon fruit
d
: an epiphytic cactus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum) of Mexico and Central America that has flattened, leaflike stems with wavy edges and is often grown as a houseplant or garden plant
Note: The cacti known as night-blooming cereus are also known as Queens of the Night.
Cite this Entry
“Night-blooming cereus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/night-blooming%20cereus. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.
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