Christmas Cactus Schlumbergera

Schlumbergera is the Christmas cactus genus of the cactus family (Cactaceae). It is native to Brazil and is technically an epiphyte that grows in humid rainforests—a very different habitat from the "typical" cacti of Mexico and the Desert Southwest. It has fleshy stems and showy flowers and grows well as a houseplant, preferring moisture but adapting to a variety of home environments. One plant can live for over a hundred years, so a well-cared for specimen will brighten your living space for decades to come. The species are daylength sensitive, initiating flowers as daylengths and seasons change. Consequently, they bloom more reliably when grown away from artificial light sources.

Cultivated Schlumbergera cacti are often confused with species now placed in the genus Rhipsalidopsis, and species have been moved back and forth between the two genera. The Easter cactus is now called Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri. The taxonomy of these cacti is still somewhat unsettled, and the species may be listed under synonymous names in catalogs, books, and websites.

Quick ID:

• Segmented stems (cladodes) that may have serrate or crenate margins
• Areoles at the tips where flowers and/or hairs emerge
• Zygomorphic flowers at the stem tips in shades of pink, orange, red, and white

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