Epiphyllum hookeri aka Climbing Cactus

Epiphyllum hookeri is an evergreen cactus with a bushy form. It grows as an epiphyte, using other plants for support. Kew places its native range from north-central Mexico through Central America. That range also runs from Trinidad to northern Venezuela. Useful Tropical Plants gives a wider range, including Colombia and Ecuador. The plant comes from wet tropical regions, rather than dry ones. Gardeners grow it as an ornamental, and people gather wild plants for local use.

The plant reaches about 2 feet [0.6 metres] in height. Its stiff branches arch outward or hang down. The stems look like leaves, but they are stems. Their bases have three strong angles before the growth flattens. Flat sections reach 2.5 feet [0.75 metres] or more in length. They measure about 0.30–0.33 feet [0.09–0.10 metres] across. These long, broad stems make up much of its form. The source gives no mature spread or larger garden height range.

The flowers open at night, rather than during the day. The species evidence does not give their colour or size. It also gives no month range for flowering. The fruit has smooth skin with a purple-red colour. Its shape ranges from oval to egg-shaped. Fruit length runs from 0.13–0.23 feet [0.04–0.07 metres]. Its width reaches about 0.11 feet [0.035 metres]. People eat the fruit raw. It is a valued wild food in eastern Guatemala.

In cultivation, this plant needs shade and soil rich in humus. The soil must drain well and have a pH below six. Its needs reflect its origin in humid tropical places. It cannot withstand frost, so cold limits outdoor growing. The evidence gives no precise hardiness zone or watering schedule. Seed is a listed means of propagation. The sources do not name any pests or diseases for this species.

People also use the plant in local medicine. Reported uses include stems for pain in the tonsils. Another use involves eating boiled flowers for a slow heartbeat. These records describe traditional uses, not proof that treatments work. Useful Tropical Plants reports no known hazards, but gives no pet-safety assessment. It reports the species as Least Concern, citing a 2017 assessment. The plant occurs across a broad range and in many protected areas.