Native Plants
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Peniocereus greggii var. greggii
Peniocereus greggii (Engelm.) Britton & Rose var. greggii
Nightblooming Cereus, Night-blooming-cereus, Queen Of The Night
Cactaceae (Cactus Family)
Synonym(s): Cereus greggii
USDA Symbol: pegrg
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
The erect or sprawling, ribbed stems of this inconspicuous cactus can be anywhere from 1-8 ft. in length. The fragrant, waxy-white flowers are nocturnal, lasting only one night. Both they and the bright red fruits that follow are quite showy.
The species and variety name “greggii” was named for Josiah Gregg, (1806-1850). He was born in Overton County, Tennessee. In the summer of 1841 and again in the winter of 1841-42 he traveled through Texas, up the Red River valley, and later from Galveston to Austin and by way of Nacogdoches to Arkansas. He took note of Texas geology, trees, prevalent attitudes, and politics. At the same time, Gregg began compiling his travel notes into a readable manuscript. His “Commerce of the Prairies”, which came out in two volumes in 1844, was an immediate success. In 1848 he joined a botanical expedition to western Mexico and California, during which he corresponded with and sent specimens to the eminent botanist George Engelman in St. Louis. Subsequently, the American Botanical Society added the Latin name “greggii” in his honor to twenty-three species of plants. Gregg died on February 25, 1850, as a result of a fall from his horse.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: WhiteBloom Time: May , Jun , Jul
Distribution
USA: AZ , NM , TXNative Distribution: W. TX to AZ & n. Mex.
Native Habitat: Flats and washes of low altitude deserts, often under creosote bushes
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: Part ShadeSoil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry, deep, sandy soils.
Propagation
Commercially Avail: yesFrom the Archive
Wildflower Newsletter 1995 VOL. 12, NO.3 - Explore the Big Bend With the Wildflower Center, Education Director\'s Report, T...Additional resources
USDA: Find Peniocereus greggii var. greggii in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Peniocereus greggii var. greggii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Peniocereus greggii var. greggii
Metadata
Record Modified: 2019-08-15Research By: TWC Staff