That is an impressive and beautiful plant.

that is taller than me..wow...can you post the smells? I want the full effect!

I am so envious - I have seen these in magazines and they are so amazing, but unfortunately not hardy where I live. Yours looks quite happy, and the fragrance is an extra bonus.

Wow! Really beautiful! I can imagine a bloom like that would be fragrant.

How TALL is it? The bulb (I assume) must the be size of a football to hold it up!

Cameron

Oh that really is an amazingly beautiufl plant. You must be so pleased to see such gorgeous blooms.

Bonny

just beautiful and like Keesha I want to smell it too. My orientals are just starting to bloom now and that scent along with the moonflower(datura) are so powerful - thanks for sharing......

Lynne

Oh, that's beautiful! It's so exciting to watch something that blooms for one night approach the date, like waiting for a baby to arrive. "Will it be tonight?"

Everybody needs something with night-time fragrance near the door or patio, and some one-time bloomers to anticipate.

Nell

Hi Annette
Mine finally bloomed this year.It is not quite as tall as yours and has 6 flowers. Sure smells nice.
Sue

These plants are monocarpic so after it sets seeds it will die, but not before it has made what I call pups. These pups will each take 3-4 years of growing and storing energy before they send up a flower stalk. My first one made 16 pups but the ones after have never had more than 4 pups in the following years. Most information states they are difficult, I disagree, if I can grow them anyone can. The difficult part is probably having patience as it can take 7 or 8 years from seed to blooming size. Each year the seedling grows a small amount, only what the tiny (to start with) bulb will support then goes dormant. This goes on for x number of years usually 7 until the bulb reaches flowering size. I have in the past given most of the pups away to get others started but now I'm hoarding hoping to have a few scattered throughout the garden and at least have one blooming every year, That's the plan anyways LOL.
They say these are hardy from zones 7-10 but one nursery up here seems they are hardy to zone 6. Maybe with good winter protection one could squeek through colder.
For those wanting to try from seed, this seed has to be fresh or it will not germinate, and not all of the seed is viable, some are duds.
I have never kept the seed but I guess I could if anyone has the patience to try this. I bought my first bulb at a UBC plant sale for $18.00, a few years later I saw it advertised for sale in a catalog from back east for $99.00. I just about passed out.
Nowadays one can usually find a pup for sale for under $20.00, after planting it will take on the average 3-4 years to reach flowering size.

Cameron I'm guessing the bulb is about 5" in diameter, they are as hard as a rock with it's nose just below the surface The flower stalk is really tough, is about 8' maybe a bit more.

Sue, great you finally got them going, hope you get lots of pups this year. How's the Brugs? We want pictures.

Annette

Congratulations, Annette. Wow, well worth waiting for.
I've never tried it but now I think I might. It would be great if you could overwinter it.

Libby

Libby, I don't give mine any winter protection at all, I was thinking of people in zone 6 or colder, you certainly won't have to. I saw one in bloom in a container at Elk Lake garden center this summer so I don't think you'd have any trouble finding one down there. If you can't let me know :o).
Annette

Annette that is one stunning flower! I second the wishing you could send the scent over the internet! I would love to judge which one I like better this one or mock orange :)

Wowsers! I haven't heard of cardio whatcha-ma-whosits, and I guess I will never see one in my garden, but it is definitely a stunner. Did it get its name because it is such a heart stopper? Thanks, Annette, for the pics.

ThinMan

I've never seen or heard of it either,but it's a Beauty,and like the others,wish i could smell it.TFS
Kathi

I have seen them in magazines and catalogs, but never known anyone who grew them. It is magnificent.

I'm taggin on your thread to tell about tonight's bloom at my place:

I put some hugemongous pics in the gallery, or you can see the whole album at the link.

Nell

Here is a link that might be useful: Night Blooming Cereus Album

Oh, so cool....if you find it, how would I overwinter it here in the east??? I have now have the grow-op, so it might not be that bad... So neat....Nancy.

Nell, what can I say....stunning.

Midnight..... you are in a lot colder zone then I am and the Cardiocrinum is said to be good to zone 6. I did see one growing and blooming in a large container maybe it was a half barrel at one of the garden centers here on the island soooo maybe grow one in a big container on wheels? so you could move it into a unheated garage for the winter. Might work, if you're as big a plantaholic as I am give it a try LOL.
Annette

Very interesting! I've never seen one of those before! Probably because they aren't hardy to this area, of course, not to mention the hardly ever blooming issue, lol.

I sure didn't expect to see that sort of flower on a plant which looks like that. Very cool!

Lorna

What a beauty Annette! Well worth the wait I'd say. Wish I could smell it.

FlowerLady