Not Sure Which Holiday Cactus You Have? Here’s How to Quickly Spot the Difference

The holiday cactus has become a generic term for several similar plants. In late fall, you might buy what you think is a Christmas cactus in a fit of seasonal spirit because they look so festive in their foil-wrapped pots. Months later, you may wonder why that plant is suddenly erupting in neon-colored, star-shaped flowers in April. Or perhaps you were gifted a pot of holiday cacti after someone propagated their plant, and now you're wondering when the flower show will start.

Rather than when these plants flower, the real distinction lies in the architecture of their stems, leaf shape, and the geometry of their blooms. While they all fall under the umbrella of holiday cacti, the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) and the Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri) are actually distinct species with different needs and schedules. Here is how to tell them apart like a pro.

Leaf Literacy: Scallops vs. Ovals

The most reliable way to ID your plant, especially when it isn’t blooming, is to look at the leaves. Technically these are actually flattened stem segments called phylloclades rather than leaves.

The Christmas cactus has segments that are somewhat teardrop-shaped with smooth, rounded, scalloped edges. There are no jagged, toothy edges on the leaves like there are on Thanksgiving cactus; the edges of Christmas cacti look like gentle waves. As the plant matures, these segments grow heavier and hang downward in a graceful, pendulous arc.

The Easter cactus has segments that are smooth and oval. Look closely at the tips and you’ll see tiny, brownish bristles or hairs. This is a tell-tale sign that your plant is an Easter cactus that will bloom in the spring instead of the winter holidays. The plant also has a more upright growth habit rather than a weeping one.

The Floral Reveal: Stars vs. Tiers

When the flower buds on those phylloclades finally open, the difference between Christmas and Easter cacti is revealed by the floral geometry. Color can also be a giveaway.

A Christmas cactus has a tiered, flower-within-a-flower look. The flowers are almost aways pink.

An Easter cactus has symmetrical, star-shaped flowers in shades or red, pink, orange, white, and purple.

Blooming Cues

For both Christmas and Easter cacti, blooming is triggered by long nights and cooler temperatures for a specific duration. Sometimes those conditions aren't met in time to bloom for a specific holiday, which is why you might have a Christmas cactus blooming in late January instead.

The Christmas cactus typically blooms from late November through January. It is the more forgiving of the two, though it still requires about 14 hours of darkness to set its buds.

The Easter Cactus is a spring star, blooming between March and May. It is notoriously finicky; if the thermostat fluctuates or the soil stays too damp during its winter rest, it may skip a year entirely. It craves a very cool, dry dormancy (around 50°F) in the heart of winter to trigger those spring stars.

What About Thanksgiving Cacti?

If you look at your plant and see serrated points on the edges of the phylloclades, you actually have a Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata). This is a cousin of Easter and true Christmas cacti. These lookalikes are commonly sold in big-box stores labeled as Christmas cacti because they're easier to coax into full, glorious bloom during the December shopping rush.

However, in future years, you'll find that as a houseplant, this holiday cactus tends to bloom naturally in late November rather than December.

In terms of care, both Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti do best in bright-indirect light—think of the dappled sun through a jungle canopy, not the scorching heat of a desert noon. All of these cacti are native to the jungles of Brazil.