Clambering plants with flat to angled stems, producing aerial roots.

Flowers are generally produced in abundance with mature plants and are typically white and are very fragrant and only last a single night in most species.

The name is derived from Σελήνη (Selene), the Greek moon goddess, referring to the nocturnal flowers, and cereus, meaning "candle" in Latin, a name used for upright cacti.

[2] The authors of the 2017 study also placed some species of Weberocereus within Selenicereus,[4] which was not accepted by Plants of the World Online as of March 2021[update].

[4] The list includes three species formerly placed in Weberocereus, whose transfer was not accepted by Plants of the World Online as of March 2021[update].