I've waited a long time for this - RESULT

[AnTTun]

Doesn't mean we have to wait another 40 years for bud to open

[JoZoo]

You must have some patience Rod. I would be giving it a severe talking to by now. Probably while jumping up and down excitingly. . Can't wait to see it. Make me look at the plants I look after in a whole new light. I discovered one today older than me but I'm sure it's not the only one

[N.D.]

You must be anxious Rod! Keep us posted, we want to share the excitement. The picture is stunning with all those hairs.

[rodsmith]

It still hasn't opened. It could be hesitating due to the very cold nights we've been getting. The temperature in my greenhouse dropped to 3.9 degrees C last night - in mid June!! The bud is even bigger this morning and shows definite signs of white. The weather forecast is for a warm day today and a much warmer night, so fingers crossed. I'll have my camera ready.

[rodsmith]

Unexpectedly the flower has opened during the morning. I thought this species flowers opened at night... Anyway, the flower measures 5 inches across (12cm) and here it is. Click on the images for a bigger view.

[Dunlin]

Beautiful. Congratulations!

[JaneO]

Stunning. Let's hope that now it's got the right idea, it will flower again next year! Otherwise.....

[rodsmith]

Stunning. Let's hope that now it's got the right idea, it will flower again next year! Otherwise.....

...another 40 years - I'll be well and truly in my grave.

[KarlR]

Very pretty indeed! Well done

The plant actually looks a good deal like a Trichocereus I have (though I've never quite settled on the species). The flowers were absolutely huge on that one. How big is the flower on your's?

[Peter A]

The plant actually looks a good deal like a Trichocereus I have (though I've never quite settled on the species). The flowers were absolutely huge on that one. How big is the flower on your's?

A lot of them are quite similar. Apart from the colour of the spines and of the stamens and style it looks a lot like a plant I had flower in July/August 2013, also after 40 years, which I bought labelled simply T. candicans, but which I think should also have read var. gladiatus. The spines on mine may be longer than those on Rodsmith's as well (about four inches at the top), and the stem perhaps slightly thicker (three and three-quarter inches).

My plant was self-fertile, with a little help (I wanted to see the fruit but had nothing at that moment to cross it with):

I was doubtful that the seed would be viable, and sowed some of it to find out. In fact it began germinating in less that 30 hours. Nineteen months later the seedlings are growing quickly, and are now an inch high and threequarters of an inch across: