Moonflower
The Story of the Moonflower
I was given a small cutting of a moonflower plant by the artist Jila Peacock in December 2002. I have treasured it. Her daughter Leila is a best mate of mine and had told me all about the myth of this plant. I was captivated!!
From an unknown origin, I had heard that when mature, it flowers, just one night a year, on a full moon, in the height of summer. The reason it is so special is that it flowers at night, and these huge, white, lotus like flowers that hang from its leaves, create the most delicious smell that fills the evening air. Jila invites all her friends round for champagne and celebration on the night. This enchanted me. She was so kind to give me one.
After some research I now think it might be from the Amazon basin- possibly a relative of Selenicereus wittii- a flowering cactus that lives on trees that stand in 12 ft of water!
‘Selene’ is the Greek Goddess of the Moon. I think this one is a Seleniceres brevispinus as it has no spikes on its leaves. Its flowers are very like the grandiflorus though.
In the wild, it is probably pollinated by bats. Once a year on a full moon, hundreds of these flowers would open up like white chinese lanterns and hang high above the water, reflecting the light and attracting bats with their sweet sticky fragrance.
check out this link for more info:
http://www.margaretmeesamazon.com/index.htm
It’s May 2006 and my Moonflower has grown rapidly in its usual summertime growth explosion.
As you can see, it was getting a little bit out of control.
taken 2nd May 2006
On Jila’s advice, I cut the apex buds that were shooting up and hitting my ceiling, (normally I am too kind to it and let it do what it wants!). I had a secret hope it might flower this year.
A leaf shadow on my wall.
The plant’s silhouette against the different coloured skies from my window are amazing. Its always changing.
Early June 2006 Something began to bud. At least SIX weird red buds. I kept my suspicions quiet as it had done this before and they had merely turned into new leaves. Something about the shape of these was different though!
24th June 2006
4th July 2006
When they began to grow into these weird spiky balls, I was pretty sure something serious was going on!
10th July 2006 When they grew into these bulbs I was certain it was flowering!!
11th July 2006
These were taken at about 4pm on the 11th July. I knew it would be really soon….
Sure enough, at about 8pm… as it was getting dark… they opened! I was gobsmacked. SIX of these flowers!!!
I have never seen anything quite like it in my life. It was IN-credible. And it was a full moon that night. How did it know?!!
So pristine and large and intricate, delicate and unusual. Spikes and swan feathers.
By the time I had woken up the next day they were closed, hanging straight down-
hmmmm.. was it a dream…
The photos don’t do it justice. Remarkable.
This has made my summer. Well worth the wait.
Ww-w-w-w-wicked!!!
THANK YOU JILA and LEILA! X x x x x x thank you thank you thank you