Posted: November 20, 2024
Is it a Christmas cactus or an Easter cactus? Oh, wait! Could it be a Thanksgiving cactus? This article helps identify the different types of holiday cacti.
Photo by S. Detrick
Our modern-day holiday cacti ancestors came from the mountainous rain forests of southeast coastal Brazil. Three cacti are commonly known as "holiday" cacti, named for the time of year they bloom. These are considered short-day plants, meaning they need at least twelve hours of uninterrupted darkness per day to flower. Flower colors include red, purple, pink, white, orange, and gold.
The Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti are from the same genus, Schlumbergera (formerly Zygocactus) but are different species. The blooms of the Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti are very similar. The Thanksgiving cactus has stem segments that contain two to four saw-toothed serrations. The blooms grow horizontally to the stems. Its anthers, the part of the plant that produces pollen, are yellow. In contrast, the stem segments of the Christmas cactus are scalloped and pear-shaped. Its blooms are droopy with purplish-brown anthers.
The Easter cactus, Hatiora gaertneri, is from an entirely different genus. The Easter cactus has rounded stem segments, and its blooms are flat and star-shaped. It is quite easy to tell this cactus apart from the other two by its flower shape. To learn more about holiday cacti, visit Holiday cacti care.
Article by C. Litjens, Master Gardener
