CHRISTMAS CACTUS

This “False Christmas Cactus,” is scientifically named Schlumbergera truncata, a succulent that blooms around November (rather than December). Thus S. truncata also goes by another common name, the “Thanksgiving Cactus.”

Schlumbergera truncata is indeed a cactus and it has sharp, pointy edges with claw-like tips. This cactus also displays flowers from mid-November to early December. Additionally, this cactus has leafless, flat, segmented green stems (caldodes) which act as photosynthetic organs. The ends of these stems are truncated, rather than pointed. The flowers of this cactus can be in shades of pink, orange, or whitel.

This cactus is endemic to a small area of the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where subtropical or tropical moist forests exist. (Wikipedia, 2026).

This cactus is commonly grown indoors to help improve air quality by filtering out airborne toxins, such as formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene.

  Classification

Kingdom Plantae

Clades (3 of them)

Order Caryophyllales

Family Cactaceae

Genus Schlumbergera

Type Species: S. truncate

                                                     Figure 1. Wide view. My backyard. 

Figure 2. Tall view.