- Family
- Cactaceae
- Subfamily
- Cactoideae
- Genus according to POWO
- Schlumbergera
- Growth form
- Branched, flattened stem segments
Rozmieszczenie
POWO gives southeastern Brazil as the native range. In trade, the name “Christmas cactus” also covers hybrids and cultivars. A specimen purchased under a common name does not thereby have confirmed identification as a wild species. [2-WWW]
Siedlisko
This is an epiphyte associated with the wet tropical biome. It grows on a support, using small supplies of substrate and organic matter, but is not a tree parasite. A moist environment does not mean permanently flooded roots. Limited space and air access help explain the cultivation requirements of forest cacti. [Fleischer and Schütz 1978] [1-WWW] [2-WWW] [1-WWW]
Budowa
Green flattened segments are stem sections, not leaves. Their margins have distinct teeth. Successive segments form a branched shoot that becomes pendulous with time. Flowers develop at the ends and have a different spatial structure from the widely open, radial flowers of many desert cacti. Similar habit is insufficient to distinguish the species from all hybrids. [Fleischer and Schütz 1978] [1-WWW] [2-WWW] [1-WWW]
Biology
Bud development depends on the interaction of day length and temperature. Flowering should therefore not be reduced to one winter watering or a single fertilizer dose. Segment growth, bud initiation and flowering impose different demands on the plant. Abrupt changes in conditions during bud development can disrupt this course. Exact flowering time also varies between cultivars. [Fleischer and Schütz 1978] [1-WWW] [2-WWW] [1-WWW]
Identification and documentation
POWO accepts Schlumbergera truncata and lists Zygocactus truncatus as a synonym. For a horticultural plant, retain the cultivar label and information on uncertain species identification. Flower colour alone does not confirm a pure species. For comparison, also document segment outline, margins and how the flower is attached. [Fleischer and Schütz 1978] [1-WWW] [2-WWW] [1-WWW]
Choose a bright site protected from sudden, strong sunlight. The substrate should combine water retention with a large proportion of air spaces. Water according to mixture condition and current growth, without allowing the pot to stand in water for long periods. Complete drying for many months, used for some terrestrial cacti, is not a universal overwintering method here. [Fleischer and Schütz 1978] [1-WWW] [2-WWW] [1-WWW]
A frost-protected Schlumbergera needs to retain a seasonal rhythm but need not share winter quarters with opuntias. Healthy terminal shoot fragments with several segments are used for propagation. A stable, aerated substrate and moderate water loss help rooting. The distinctive nature of this group is explained further in the account of epiphytic cacti. [Fleischer and Schütz 1978] [1-WWW] [2-WWW] [1-WWW]
Notes on sources
POWO accepts Schlumbergera truncata and treats Zygocactus truncatus as a synonym. Plants sold as “Christmas cactus” may be hybrids, so the commercial name does not confirm the species.
Names encountered in the literature
Zygocactus truncatus
Status of names from the literature
- Schlumbergera truncata — accepted name in WCVP 16
- Zygocactus truncatus — synonim nazwy Schlumbergera truncata
Name status according to WCVP 16 dated 4 June 2026. Complete tree and synonyms
Source material
Species record in Plants of the World Online [2-WWW] [Fleischer and Schütz 1978] [1-WWW] [2-WWW] [1-WWW]
The name and range were checked in POWO on 8.10.2026. The profile distinguishes source data from cultivation inferences.
Cactus and succulent atlas