Christmas Cactus
ExplorePlants
Christmas Cactus
Schlumbergera
The Christmas Cactus is a special plant that blooms with beautiful flowers during the holiday season! It's a great houseplant that loves bright, indirect light.
Habitat: Tropical forests
Appearance
The Christmas Cactus has flat, segmented green stems that drape gracefully. Unlike desert cacti, it lacks sharp spines. During winter, it bursts with vibrant, tubular flowers in shades of pink, red, white, or purple, hanging elegantly from the stem tips.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsida
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It's not a desert cactus! It originally comes from humid rainforests in Brazil.
Some varieties can live for over 100 years, becoming family heirlooms.
The plant knows it's winter by sensing the length of the nighttime darkness!
Wild Christmas cacti grow on trees or rocks, not rooted in the ground!
Special abilities
Ability
Jungle Water Store
Christmas Cactus has thick, flattened stems that store water, helping it survive dry spells in its native rainforest habitat.
Ability
Winter Bloomer
Christmas Cactus can flower when days are short in winter, bringing vibrant color when many other plants are dormant.
Ability
Tree Dweller
Christmas Cactus grows on trees in the wild without soil, clinging onto branches for support and light.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 15-30 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 5-8 cm
- Bloom Season
- Winter
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Bird
Ecological connections
pollinates
Reddish Hermit
Phaethornis ruber
This hummingbird sips nectar from its flowers.
pollinates
Saw-billed Hermit
Ramphodon naevius
Another hummingbird that helps spread pollen.
symbiotic with
Thanksgiving Cactus
Schlumbergera truncata
Often hybridized with it to create many modern varieties.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Thorny Stem
Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense.
Succulent
Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates.
Longevous
This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
Spiky/Thorny
Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface.
Rainforest
This habitat trait refers to species found in tropical rainforests, characterized by high annual rainfall, high biodiversity, and dense tree cover.
Also known as
Thanksgiving CactusZygocactus
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Christmas Cactus?
15-30 cm
How wide does Christmas Cactus spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on Christmas Cactus?
5-8 cm
When does Christmas Cactus bloom?
Winter
Is Christmas Cactus edible?
No
Is Christmas Cactus toxic?
None
What is Christmas Cactus's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Christmas Cactus pollinated?
Bird
Snap Map
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