Tohono Chul, in Tucson, is home to the largest known private collection of night-blooming cereus, aka Queen of the Night, in the world. It blooms just for one night each summer.
Gloria Knott One day each summer, Tucsonans flock to Tohono Chul, walking amid the trails with headlamps lighting the way.
Tohono Chul, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte, is home to the largest known private collection of night-blooming cereus in the world. While there are around 150 plants, every individual cactus doesn’t usually bloom. There are about 17 accessible plants showing buds at the moment, some with multiple buds on a single cactus. That means when Bloom Night rolls around, it's likely you'll see dozens of flowers showing off.
Researchers have found that because the plant can’t self-pollinate, it relies on pollinators like the white-lined sphinx moth. The more blooms that are open at the same time, the better chances of reproduction. We don't know when the massive bloom will happen this summer, but gardeners keep a close eye on all of the cacti, measuring the buds at least twice a week. They consider when the buds begin to grow and how fast they’re growing, and then they account for a time of stalling — which is when the bud typically pauses its growth for a week or two. When it begins to grow again, it reaches a critical size where it’s “very unlikely to stall anymore and will probably finish their growth,” Spikes says.
Tohono Chul sends out a series of Bloom Watch emails every summer, updating the community on when the bloom might happen. If you sign up, expect updates on measurements, information on the species itself and the most important email of summer: when Bloom Night is here.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
What you missed this week in notable Tucson crimes and court casesThis week's local crime and court updates from Arizona Daily Star.
Read more »
Tucson police arrest woman, 20, in fatal stabbingTucson police said the victim was involved in a fight with two women when he was fatally stabbed.
Read more »
Tucson speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Jun. 9, 2023Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Arizona Daily Star.
Read more »
A new coworking space is coming to downtown TucsonFor Star subscribers: Downtown Tucson will get another coworking office space when the biggest global operator of flexible workspaces plans to open its second local office.
Read more »
Tucson holds Nintendo Switch tournaments around townLocal teens can show off their Nintendo Switch skills at free tournaments held around Tucson in June and July, thanks to Tucson Parks and Recreation.
Read more »
Panel: Tucson lawmaker guilty of disorderly conduct for hiding BiblesBut the Arizona House ethics committee makes no punishment recommendation for Democrat Stephanie Stahl Hamilton.
Read more »