Photo by: Roger Hammer, Dade Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Frank Vincentz (originally posted on Wikipedia)

Nomenclature

Common Name:

mistletoe cactus

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Rhipsalis baccifera

Family:

CACTACEAE

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Often grown by enthusiasts in hanging baskets or coconuts. Grows naturally on trees. Grows in organic soil or in coconut husks.

Considerations:

Availability:

FNPS Plant Sales, Specialty Provider, Friends

Propagation:

Can be propagated from fragments or seeds.

Light:

Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Epiphytic

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Native Habitats:

Found naturally on coastal berms and rockland hammocks. Suitable for planting in the subtropical Florida.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

This species is listed as Endangered in Florida. There was a reported sighting of it in Everglades National Park just before Hurricane Andrew (1992) by Roger Hammer and Jennifer Possley. Afterward, no plants were found. Dr. Frank Craighead was reported to have rescued parts of the plant and given it to a few friends for safekeeping. The plant has found its way into limited propagation but is rarely available for sale.  The species is not rare in the American tropics.