Question
I have recently moved into a house that had a raised bed of overgrowth and in the middle where several huge rose bushes edged by trumpet vine trees. Thinking or not thinking I attacked and stripped all the under growth to show off my new roses to find out there had been night blooming cyrus growing in there for years from the family that owned the home since the 50s. Now I am not sure what the foliage looks like to be able to try and see if they came back and am not weeding anything that isn't a weed for sure. Do you or anyone know what I should be looking for? The kids of the elderly father are trying to find pics of the foliage but as everyone else only have pics of the flowers. I tried reaching out to my local master gardners assoc at the fall plant sale and no one seemed interested in helping me unfortunately. I really could use some help here just trying to keep the really old plants like holly hocks and such that you don't pick up at the box stores. Thanks in advance.

Answer
Joyce,

Below I have put links to several pictures of night blooming cereus. However, the previous owner had to keep the plant in a pot and take it in for the winter since this is a tropical plant and will freeze out during winters in Ohio, unless this raised bed is in a greenhouse.It will not survive the winter if it gets below 32 degrees.  I live in northeast Indiana near Fort Wayne and I have a night blooming cereuas. I pruned it just before bringing it in for the winter. I would be happy to send you the cuttings but you would have to pay the postage. I keep mine in a pot and it goes out for the summer in full sun then indoors when the night temps drop below 50 degrees. Below are the pictures you are looking for. Let me know if you want my cuttings. I will figure out the cuttings. I do have a pay pal account or you can mail a check.

http://www.hear.org/starr/images/image/?q=070308-5398&o=plants

http://www.worleys.com/bonsai/specific/nbc/index.html

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/27457302@N07/sets/72157605872112264/

There is a 2nd type of night blooming cereus that is more like a cactus. You can see pictures here: https://www.google.com/search?q=night+blooming+cereus+plants&hl=en&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=XMZxUOnWBOLo0gGt5YGgDg&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1192&bih=514#hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Cereus+peruvianus+f.+monstrosa&oq=Cereus+peruvianus+f.+monstrosa&gs_l=img.12...51243.51243.0.54304.1.1.0.0.0.0.95.95.1.1.0...0.0...1c.1.BQkMI9oNNrg&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=7cf6d97951979785&biw=1192&bih=514


The latin name for that one is Cereus peruvianus f. monstrosa. Both types have the same bloom that only opens at night and whithers by morning. People have all night parties when their plant is ready to bloom. Both types will not survive frost outdoors. Good luck in your hunt.

Darlene