Gardeners delight after triple Moonflower bloom

The rare cactus in Cambridge had multiple blooms for the first time.

The Strophocactus Wittii, or Amazon Moonflower, only blooms once a year and for just twelve hours.

Typically, the petals open at sunset and it is all over by sunrise.

Cambridge University Botanic Garden became the first place in the UK to experience this phenomenon in 2021.

Hundreds of thousands of people watched the live stream to be part of the experience.

Gardener Luigi Leroni told Star Radio it was a big deal:

The moonflower didn't bloom in 2022, but did in 2023.

Then in 2024, for the first time, the plant had multiple flowers, with all 3 blooming on February afternoons, rather than at night as anticipated.

Flower A began to unfurl on Thursday 1 February 2024 at around 1.45pm.

Star Radio were reporting from the Botanic Garden that afternoon.

Kathryn Bray and Luigi Leroni, from Cambridge University Botanic Garden, with Star Radio's Andy Lake.

Gardener Kathryn Bray described what it takes to care for the Moonflower:

Flower B began to open at 12.45pm on Sunday 4 February 2024, with Flower C following at 2.45pm on Friday 9 February 2024.

Following the flower's death, a unique dye was created from the petals on site in Cambridge.

Staff at the Botanic Garden said the triple bloom was "beautiful" and the Moonflower had been enjoyed by "a steady stream of admirers".

The Glasshouse is now shut for maintenance.