A Queen of the Night blooming in the Botanical Garden of St Petersburg University
A flower of a rare cactus commonly referred to as a Queen of the Night has begun to bloom in an orangery of the Botanical Garden of St Petersburg University. This plant is in bloom only once a year, and its flowering period lasts only a few hours.
The Queen of the Night is a species of cacti known by the Latin name of Selenicereus grandiflorus. It originated in the tropical regions of southern North America and the Caribbean. In the wild, this climbing shrub grows mainly on rocks, and is also found on trees. The stems of the plant are about 2 to 2.5 centimetres thick. They are covered with thorns and aerial roots. Like most types of cacti, Selenicereus grandiflorus does not have leaves.
Their giant, up to 38 centimetres in diameter, flowers bloom only one night and fade by morning. There are two specimens of Selenicereus grandiflorus in the orangeries of the Botanical Garden of St Petersburg University. However, the Queen of the Night blooms at the University not every year. Its first blooming was recorded in 2019. The flowering season of the cactus is late May to early June. During this period, our gardeners closely monitor the plant. As a rule, the flowers fade too quickly, and in the morning only beautiful fallen buds can be found.
So do not miss it! Our Queen of the Night is in bloom right now. You can watch a live broadcast of its blooming here.
This plant came to Europe in the early 17th century. In the orangeries of pre-revolutionary Russia, this tropical cactus had been grown since the early 18th century. This is one of the first plants in the greenhouses and orangeries of St Petersburg and the Botanical Garden of St Petersburg University.
St Petersburg University, the oldest university in Russia, was founded on 28 January (8 February) 1724. This is the day when Peter the Great issued a decree establishing the University and the Russian Academy of Sciences. Today, St Petersburg University is an internationally recognised centre for education, research and culture. In 2024, St Petersburg University will celebrate its 300th anniversary.
The plan of events during the celebration of the anniversary of the University was approved at the meeting of the Organising Committee for the celebration of St Petersburg University’s 300th anniversary. The meeting was chaired by Dmitry Chernyshenko, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. Among the events are: the naming of a minor planet in honour of St Petersburg University; the issuance of bank cards with a special design; the creation of postage stamps dedicated to the history of the oldest university in Russia; and the branding of the aircraft of the Rossiya Airlines to name just a few. Additionally, the University has launched a website dedicated to the upcoming holiday. The website contains information about outstanding University staff, students, and alumni; scientific achievements; and details of preparations for the anniversary.