This photo was taken at 'the Kampong' in Miami, Florida.  The pereskia  looks very much like the regular grandifolia, although it produces massive fruits.

Usually at this time of the year, the weather is still very cold.  This year we are experiencing a very warm spell, and I have had my first pereskia grandifolia flower.

Although they bear similiar names this variety of the pereskia is very different from its other namesake.  Its leaves tend to be very different especially when it matures. But if you are looking for something distinctive to tell them apart, look no further.  It is its flowers, and flowering pattern that separates the two, quite easily.

Although most pereskia species bloom around summertime, their fruits take a very long time to develop.  It is not unusual for some plants to take nine months to devolop to the seed stage.  There is also an added difference where climate pays a major part.  You will notice the bare fruits of the aculeata in Europe, against the tropical fruits of the grandifolia sp in Florida, which are picture below.