Learn all about Christmas cactus, including its origins and how it came to be growing in our indoor gardens.
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Hello and welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in the great indoors! If you’d like to support our show, please use our Amazon affiliate link below.
Today, we’re doing another installment of Plant Stories—this time, it’s all about the Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera). I absolutely love these plants. They come in a wide variety of beautiful colors: pink, fuchsia, lavender, purple, white, and even some with greenish tones. They’re simply gorgeous!
This plant originates from the coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil, where it grows in cool, shaded, and humid environments. That’s why it’s important to mimic those conditions in your indoor garden, especially by maintaining cooler temperatures.
In its native habitat, the plant flowers around April to May, but in the Northern Hemisphere—like here in Southern California—it blooms in the winter months, making it a treat during the holiday season. This unique blooming time has led to it being called the Christmas Cactus. In Europe, it’s sometimes referred to as the Crab Cactus due to its claw-like stems.
There are six main species of Schlumbergera. Many are known as holiday cacti because they bloom between September and February, especially near Thanksgiving and Christmas. The genus name, Schlumbergera, is a tribute to Frédéric Schlumberger, a French collector of exotic plants.
The plant was discovered by Allan Cunningham in the early 1800s, and by the 1900s, hybrids were already being developed. It became popular in Christian traditions thanks to its winter blooming habit. One such rare hybrid is Schlumbergera × buckleyi, known as the true Christmas Cactus. If you come across one, it’s considered a collector’s treasure!
Another common parent species for today’s cultivars is Schlumbergera truncata, which differs in appearance from buckleyi. Some even have orange tones thanks to hybridization efforts starting in the 1950s across North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
There’s also a charming legend about a Jesuit missionary named Father Jose in Bolivia, who was gifted a Schlumbergera plant by villagers, symbolizing acceptance of the Christmas story.
Today, the Christmas Cactus continues to captivate with its stunning blooms and rich history—making it a perfect indoor plant, even outside its blooming season.
Christmas Cactus FAQ
What is the origin of the Christmas Cactus?
The Christmas Cactus originates from the coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil, where it grows in cool, shaded, and humid environments.
Why is it called a Christmas Cactus?
It is named for its blooming time in the Northern Hemisphere, which coincides with the Christmas season.
Who is Schlumbergera named after?
The genus name is a tribute to Frédéric Schlumberger, a French collector of exotic plants.
What colors do Christmas Cactus flowers come in?
They come in pink, fuchsia, purple, white, lavender, and even rare tones like orange or greenish hues.
What is the rare Christmas Cactus variety called?
The rare original hybrid is called Schlumbergera × buckleyi and is now considered a collector’s item.
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