See rare cactus bloom tonight at Selby Gardens

Talk about a special performance. 

A cactus at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens will bloom for just a few hours tonight in this once-annual event.

The public is invited to a free Queen of the Night viewing party from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at Selby Gardens’ downtown campus, according to a recent release. 

The Queen of the Night, or Selenicereus, is a cactus found in Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America, according to the release.

“The generic name is derived from Selene, the Greek moon goddess, and cereus, meaning 'candle' in Latin,” the release states. “Its name reflects a single night of the year in the plant’s life. On that night, as twilight moves to night, spectacular blossoms open up all along the length of the plant for a few brief hours.”

The viewing party will take place in the Hobart K. Swan and Janis F. Swan Live Oak Arrival Court next to the Morganroth Family Living Energy Access Facility at Selby Gardens’ downtown campus.

But if you can’t make it downtown tonight, a virtual livestream viewing on Selby Gardens' Facebook page will be available as well.