How to Identify Holiday Cactus
Unlike typical desert cacti, Schlumbergeras don’t thrive in sandy, arid soils. These unique cacti are actually tropical epiphytes, meaning they grow on trees in rainforest environments. They aren’t parasitic—they simply use the trees as a surface to anchor themselves and gather moisture and nutrients from the air and debris around them.
To a normal eye, all the holiday cacti look just about the same, don’t they? You might even think there’s just one type out there? Or perhaps you know there are more than one type, but don’t know which one you have?
Well, I can tell you that the term ‘holiday cactus’ refers to three different types (we’ll get to the scientific names later);
- First, we have what’s called the Thanksgiving Cactus (TC)
(Sometimes referred to as November Cactus) - Secondly, its close relative, the Christmas Cactus (CC)
- And thirdly, there’s the Easter Cactus (EC)
They are all very similar to each other, but they have slight differences that make it possible to identify them from each other. The differences show in:
- Bloom time: on Thanksgiving/Christmas/Easter
- Leaf shapes
- Flower angles
- How the plant grows
Okay, bring out your inner Sherlock ~ let’s identify your Schlumbergera! 🔎
The first thing to consider is the bloom time of the plant. Did it flower around Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter? The answer to this question gives you a solid seasonal clue.
Next, start inspecting the stem segments (cladodes). They look like leaf pads stacked end to end. Pay attention to the shape: are the edges rounded, scalloped, or sharply toothed? (Please, see the image below) This detail is a strong indicator of which type of Schlumbergera you might be dealing with.
Then there’s the flower shape. Christmas and Thanksgiving cactus flowers tend to point sideways rather than straight up. That’s because their blooms have a kind of zygomorphic shape (bilateral symmetry)—meaning they can only be split into two matching halves in one specific direction. (Think of it like a face or a butterfly: if you draw a line right down the middle, both sides match.)
Easter cactus flowers, on the other hand, usually point upward and have radial symmetry—which means they can be split evenly in multiple directions, like a daisy.
Lastly, look at how the plant grows; Christmas Cactus tends to have arching and slightly drooping stems. It may hang down a bit, especially when mature. Thanksgiving Cactus is similar to the Christmas Cactus, but it typically grows more upright and vigorously. Stems are more toothed and can grow more outward. Easter Cactus grows more upright and compact. The segments are thicker and often stand more vertically compared to the other two.
Schlumbergera Cactus Names
When learning about Schlumbergera, the scientific names and nicknames can feel a little confusing. So let’s go them through together—I’ll keep it as simple as possible.
As I mentioned above, there are three main types you’re most likely to hear about, and the names usually relate to the time they bloom. The three Holiday cacti are:
1. Schlumbergera truncata — This is the “Thanksgiving cactus”, or sometimes referred to as the “November cactus”. It typically blooms in late November. It’s got pointy, jagged edges on the stem segments, and the flowers are flashy, facing sideways. Sometimes people mistake it for a Christmas cactus, and it is often sold as one, but those pointy tips are a giveaway.
2. Schlumbergera x buckleyi — This is the true “Christmas cactus”. It’s a hybrid, and its stems are more scalloped or rounded along the edges. The flowers bloom around December and dangle gracefully. The plant has a more “hanging” growing style.
3. Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri (/Schlumbergera gaertneri, or Hatiora gaertneri in older books) — Known as the “Easter cactus”, this one blooms in spring and has even rounder pads and starburst-style flowers that open wider and point more upward. It belongs to a different species and genus (Rhipsalidopsis) than TC and CC, making them more like cousins than siblings.
There are also dozens of hybrids and cultivars with fun names like ‘Madame Butterfly’, ‘White Christmas’, or ‘Thor Carmen’, but these are usually crossbreeds from the main three. (More about hybrids below)
Schlumbergera Cactus Colors
All Schlumbergera may share the same green leafy look, but when it comes to flower color, this is where the plant reveals its true variety—an endless spectrum of vibrant blooms! You’re not limited to just one or two shades; these cacti come in a full rainbow of colors, bringing a burst of unexpected color to your home. 🌈
Of the three holiday cacti, the Thanksgiving cactus tends to have the most vivid-colored flowers. Christmas cactus flowers are similar but slightly softer tones, while Easter cactus blooms are more pastel, making them perfect for Easter!
As for color options, the most common shades you’ll see are pink, red, magenta, and white. However, breeders have expanded the palette to orange, peach, salmon, fuchsia, lavender, and even (shh, my favorite) yellow tones. Some hybrids have two-tone or gradient flowers, such as pink fading into white or orange tipped with red—there’s truly something for everyone’s taste!
Flower color depends on both the genetics of the plant and environmental factors like light and temperature. Cooler night temperatures can actually intensify the colors, so if your plant bloomed pale pink last year, and now it’s a vivid fuchsia, don’t worry—you didn’t mix it up. 😅 The cooler temps have simply deepened the color. (You can use this to your advantage if you’re after more intense hues.)
Each flower lasts about a week, and since the buds don’t all open at once, a healthy plant (in the right conditions) can bloom for 1 to 2 months in total.
When shopping for a new plant, keep in mind that unopened buds won’t reveal the true color of the flowers. So if you’re aiming for a specific shade, be sure to pick a plant with a few open blooms to see the exact color you’re getting.
True Christmas Cactus Identification
I get asked about the true Christmas cactus (CC) a lot because this topic can be a little baffling to some people. You have a Christmas cactus, but is it really a Christmas cactus? It was given or sold to you as one, so it should be—right?
Well, unfortunately, true Christmas cacti are difficult to find nowadays. Even the ones sold under the label ‘Christmas cactus’ are in fact Thanksgiving cacti! They just sell them under the wrong label.
Over time, the real CC kind of faded from the mainstream market. It must have been by the 1980-90s when the Thanksgiving cactus had completely replaced it in garden centers and plant shops.
Why? There are a few reasons for it:
I’d say, in comparison to CC, the main reason is simply commercial convenience; Thanksgiving cactus is cheaper and faster to produce than a true Christmas cactus. They are easier to propagate, they grow faster, they are hardier and bloom more reliably under greenhouse conditions, and they are more durable during transportation—making them the ideal choice for plant nurseries!
Thanksgiving cactus (TC) also blooms earlier than its ‘cousin’ (CC)—this is great from the sales aspect because it makes them ready for sale during the peak holiday shopping season (late November–early December). The perfect time for stores to catch the early festive shoppers!
Over time, the real CC simply faded from the mainstream market. And as most people aren’t even aware of this, there’s no demand to bring it back. I’d say the only way to get a real Christmas cactus tends to be as a pass-along plant, often found in older homes or inherited from relatives. It’s more common in private collections than garden centers now.
So if you want one, ask around from your older relatives and neighbors! Their old holiday cactus is most likely a true Christmas cactus! This is how I got my CC cuttings too; from a lady who was almost 100 years old! She had had her cacti for decades. I was so lucky to get some cuttings of her plants.
Otherwise, check plant marketplaces online—there are people selling and trading CC cuttings. You can also keep an eye on local ads; if someone’s giving away their old holiday cacti, ask to see photos of it!
If you’re wondering about the identity of your Christmas cactus, how can you really tell? We covered how to identify holiday cacti earlier in the article, but here’s a quick recap—this time focusing only on true Christmas cactus. Here are a few things to look at:
1. Stem segments: True Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) has smooth, scalloped edges. No sharp, toothy tips. The segments are softer and more rounded.
2. Flowers: Christmas cactus blooms are tubular and hang down. They tend to be symmetrical with a delicate, flowing look. Think elegant rather than spiky.
3. Timing: It usually blooms in December, not November. If your cactus started blooming around Thanksgiving, it might be a Thanksgiving cactus instead.
4. Growth habit: Christmas cacti often have a more pendulous (hanging) growth habit. This makes them look great in hanging pots, or placed on taller furniture.
If you inherited your cactus from a grandparent, there’s a good chance it’s a real Christmas cactus. Because these older hybrids are rare these days, they have become quite sought after among plant collectors.
Schlumbergera Cactus Hybrid
Let’s briefly touch on the topic of hybrids. Schlumbergera species crossbreed easily, which breeders have taken full advantage of. When you see a holiday cactus with an unusual flower shape or wild new color combo, it’s most likely a hybrid.
Breeders create hybrids to enhance specific features: better growth, longer bloom time, unique colors or color combinations, or even disease resistance. That’s how we ended up with cultivars like ‘Christmas Flame’ (a fiery orange-red), ‘Gold Charm’ (yellow blooms), and ‘Dark Marie’ (a stunning magenta-purple).
Hybrids are cloned by cuttings rather than grown from seed to keep their exact traits. So if you find one you love, you can propagate it easily at home.
Just know that hybrid plants might not follow the strict rules of the “big three” categories. Meaning; they might bloom off-season, have oddly shaped segments, or show mixed traits. Naturally, this also makes them one-of-a-kind plants.
An interesting fact: the most famous hybrid you’ll hear about is Schlumbergera x buckleyi, which is a cross between S. russelliana and S. truncata. This hybridizing gave us the true Christmas cactus, with its elegant blooms and trailing stems. So yes, the true Christmas cactus is actually a HYBRID—not something found in the jungle!
FINAL WORDS
I hope this blog post helps you identify your Holiday cactus! And hopefully, you learnt something new about Schlumbergera colors or hybridization, etc. Once you’ve taken a closer look at your plants, please share which Schlumbergera cacti do you have? Any true Christmas cacti? You’re welcome to write in the comment section below.
Thank you for reading! Until next time… 💚🙏
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