Plant Profile: Schlumbergera x buckleyi

Taxonomy: Schlumbergera x buckleyi

Names

Christmas Cactus

  • Photo of Schlumbergera x buckleyi (Schlumbergera x buckleyis)

Phonetic Spelling:shlum-BER-ger-uh BUK-lee-eye

Genus:Schlumbergera

Species:buckleyi

Family:Cactaceae

The Christmas Cactus is a cultivated hybrid houseplant known for its vibrant flowers that bloom from November through mid-February. Its blossoms hang gracefully downward, and the stem segments feature a flattened shape with scalloped edges. This particular cactus is not commonly available for purchase. More often than not, what you’ll encounter in stores is the Thanksgiving Cactus (S. truncata), which is frequently misidentified as a Christmas Cactus.

**Quick Identification**

Schlumbergera x buckleyi Feature Summary

Schlumbergera x buckleyi Image Gallery

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Tags

#showy flowers
#houseplant
#drought tolerant
#succulent
#easy to grow
#pink flowers
#fleshy leaves
#epiphytic
#interiorscape
#winter interest
#easy to propagate
#fantz
#dry soils tolerant
#Christmas decorations
#container plants

Similar Plants

Schlumbergera x buckleyi is often confused with:

Schlumbergera x buckleyi Feature Summary

Flowers
Flower Description:
Seasonal bloomer. Flowers are slightly zygomorphic, anthocyanin-pigmented (usually purple, lavender, pink or white). The tube ispurpl elongated, weakly oblique; tepals spreading to recurved, of varying lengths. Stamens inserted on the tube. The flowers hang down.
Flower Color:
Pink
Purple/Lavender
Leaves
Leaf Description:
Leaves are inconspicuous to lacking. They are represented by setaceous, short hairs from areoles between crenations.
Stem
Stem Description:
Flattened stem segments with scalloped edges are tear drop shape.
Attributes
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Whole Plant Traits
Plant Type:
Houseplant
Succulent
Epiphyte
Cultural Conditions
Light:
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil Drainage:
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
Available Space To Plant:
12 inches-3 feet
Less than 12 inches
Landscape
Landscape Location:
Container
Houseplants

Schlumbergera x buckleyi Image Gallery

Schlumbergera x buckleyi Flowers

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Flower Description

Seasonal bloomer. Flowers are slightly zygomorphic, anthocyanin-pigmented (usually purple, lavender, pink or white). The tube ispurpl elongated, weakly oblique; tepals spreading to recurved, of varying lengths. Stamens inserted on the tube. The flowers hang down.

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Schlumbergera x buckleyi Leaves

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Leaf Description

Leaves are inconspicuous to lacking. They are represented by setaceous, short hairs from areoles between crenations.

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Schlumbergera x buckleyi Stem

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Stem Description

Flattened stem segments with scalloped edges are tear drop shape.

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Stem Color

grass
Green

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Schlumbergera x buckleyi Attributes

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Schlumbergera x buckleyi Whole Plant Traits

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Schlumbergera x buckleyi Cultural Conditions

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Schlumbergera x buckleyi Landscape

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland