Schlumbergera russelliana
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Epiphyllum russellianum
- Schlumbergera bridgesii
- Zygocactus bridgesii
- Phonetic Spelling
- shlum-BER-ger-uh rus-sel-lee-AY-nuh
- Description
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Thanksgiving or Christmas Cactus has leafless green stems which act as leaves to photosynthesize. The stems are composed of flattened segments that vary in length from 0.5 to 1.5 inches long and 1/2 to 3/4 inch wide. A few notches occur along the edges of these segments. Areoles with 1 or 2 bristles appear at these notches and at the ends of stems from which flower buds appear. The showy flowers come in shades of pink and have a "flower inside a flower" look. They are native to coastal mountains in SE Brazil and usually grow in trees as an epiphyte in rain forests.
Most of the plants sold in stores today are sterile hybrids of S. russelliana and S. truncata. There are over 200 cultivars of these plants giving a variety of flower colors.
Plant in light soils and give it bright light. Provide moisture but do not overwater. They will do best if given time outdoors in the summer through fall. The shorter cooler days of fall will help induce flower budding.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Schlumbergera
- Species:
- russelliana
- Family:
- Cactaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- S.E. Brazil
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Epiphyte
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Succulent
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Rounded
- Weeping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is yellow-green with 4-5 ribs.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Orange
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- Tepals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1.5 to 2-inch terminal flowers hang downward and have stamens protruding from the back-swept petals in shades of pink, red, purple, yellow and white.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- No leaves. See stem information.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Segmented flattened green stems with scattered notches along the edges. Margins can be crenate to serrate. Stems tend to arch downward as they grow in length and flower. Bases can become woody with age. The stem is capable of photosynthesis.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
