Epiphyllum 'Ric Rac' Cactus

Cryptocereus anthonyanus
Common Names: Ric Rac Cactus, Zig Zag Cactus, Fishbone Cactus

Native to the tropical forests of southern Mexico, Cryptocereus anthonyanus is an epiphytic cactus—one that clings to trees rather than desert soil. Its flattened, deeply lobed stems trace a zigzag pattern reminiscent of a fish’s skeleton, giving rise to its common names.

In the wild, it grows beneath the canopy where sunlight filters through shifting layers of green. Rain collects briefly on its surface before running off, leaving the plant to store moisture within its fleshy tissue. When mature, its stems arch gracefully outward, cascading over the edge of their container in sculptural rhythm.

Tolerant of both bright and indirect light, the Ric Rac Cactus is forgiving by nature—well-suited for novice growers and seasoned collectors alike. It asks little beyond warmth, drainage, and time.

Resilient, unusual, and quietly architectural, it blurs the line between cactus and vine—an emblem of adaptation beyond expectation.