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Christmas Cactus Schlumbergera x buckleyi

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Christmas Cactus:

Previously known as:

  • Epiphyllum × buckleyi
Phonetic Spelling
shlum-BER-ger-uh BUK-lee-eye
Description

Christmas Cactus is a hybrid, container-grown houseplant that produces showy blooms from November until mid-February. Its blooms droop down toward the ground and the stem segments are flattened with scalloped edges. This cactus is rarely for sale. Often times, plants sold in November and December under the name "Christmas Cactus" are the Thanksgiving Cactus S. truncata.  

Quick ID

  • Cladophylls with 2 or 3 crenations
  • Leaves inconspicuous
  • Flowers with elongated tube, in pink or orange hues, or white
  • Flowers weakly oblique at apex

 

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

More information on Schlumbergera.

Profile Video:
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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#houseplant#drought tolerant#succulent#easy to grow#pink flowers#epiphytic#interiorscape#low maintenance#winter interest#herbaceous perennial#easy to propagate#fantz#dry soils tolerant#Christmas decorations#container plant#perennial#long lived
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#houseplant#drought tolerant#succulent#easy to grow#pink flowers#epiphytic#interiorscape#low maintenance#winter interest#herbaceous perennial#easy to propagate#fantz#dry soils tolerant#Christmas decorations#container plant#perennial#long lived
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Schlumbergera
    Species:
    buckleyi
    Family:
    Cactaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Stem Cutting
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Epiphyte
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Houseplant
    Perennial
    Succulent
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Rounded
    Weeping
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    12 inches-3 feet
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Orange
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Winter
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    Tepals
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Seasonal bloomer. Flowers are slightly zygomorphic, in shades of red, orange, pink or white. The tube is elongated, weakly oblique; tepals spreading to recurved, of varying lengths. Stamens inserted on the tube. The flowers hang down.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are inconspicuous to lacking. They are represented by setaceous, short hairs from areoles between crenations. See stem information.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Flattened stem segments with scalloped edges are tear drop shape. Each cladode is lightly serrate on the margins, distinguishing it from other species, and have areoles at the tips where the flowers emerge.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil