The quickest way to settle Christmas cactus vs Thanksgiving cactus is to look at the edges of the flat leaf segments: pointed, claw-like teeth mean Thanksgiving cactus, smooth rounded scallops mean Christmas cactus. Flower shape, pollen colour and bloom time confirm it. This guide shows all four checks, explains why most “Christmas cacti” in stores are really Thanksgiving cacti, and covers the third holiday cactus, the Easter cactus.
Christmas vs Thanksgiving vs Easter cactus at a glance
| Thanksgiving cactus | Christmas cactus | Easter cactus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical name | Schlumbergera truncata | Schlumbergera × buckleyi | Hatiora gaertneri |
| Segment edges | 2–4 pointed teeth on each side | Smooth, rounded scallops | Rounded, with small bristles at the tips |
| Flowers | Tubular, lopsided, held out sideways | Even and symmetrical, hanging down | Open, star-shaped |
| Pollen (anthers) | Yellow | Pinkish to purplish-brown | Not used to identify it |
| Usual bloom time | Mid to late November | December | March to May |
| Sold as | Often labelled “Christmas cactus” | Less common in stores | Spring, often near Easter |
How to tell a Christmas cactus from a Thanksgiving cactus
All three plants are forest cacti from Brazil with flat, jointed stems instead of leaves. Each joint is called a segment, and the segments are where the differences are easiest to see.
Check the segment edges
This is the surest test and it works all year, flowers or not. Run a finger along one segment.
- Thanksgiving cactus: two to four sharp, saw-tooth points along each side, with two longer points at the tip that look like little claws. It is sometimes called crab cactus for this reason.
- Christmas cactus: smooth, rounded bumps along each side, more like a scalloped edge. No sharp points.
- Easter cactus: rounded edges like a Christmas cactus, but with fine bristles at the segment tips.
Look at the flowers
Thanksgiving cactus flowers are tubular and slightly lopsided, and they tend to stick out sideways from the stem tips. Christmas cactus flowers are more even and symmetrical and usually hang down. Easter cactus flowers look different from both: they open flat into a star shape, a bit like a daisy.
Check the pollen colour
Look at the anthers, the tiny pollen-covered tips at the end of the long stamens in the middle of each flower. On a Thanksgiving cactus they are yellow. On a Christmas cactus they are pinkish to purplish-brown. This is handy when the plant is in flower and you are not sure about the segments.
Note when it blooms
Under normal autumn conditions a Thanksgiving cactus flowers from mid to late November, about a month before a Christmas cactus, which flowers in December. Timing alone is not proof, though. Room temperature and how much light the plant gets at night can shift either one by weeks, so use it to back up what the segments tell you.
Flower colour is not a clue
Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti both come in a wide range of colours: red, rose, purple, lavender, peach, orange, cream and white. A pink-flowered plant can be either one, and some white varieties blush pink when nights are cool while the buds are forming. So ignore the colour and go back to the segment edges and the pollen.
Why your “Christmas cactus” is probably a Thanksgiving cactus
Most holiday cacti sold in stores are Thanksgiving cacti or hybrids of it, often labelled simply “Christmas cactus” or “holiday cactus”. Growers prefer them because they bloom earlier, so plants arrive in stores already covered in buds for the whole holiday season. If yours flowered in November and has pointed segment tips, that is what you have. There is nothing wrong with it, and the care is exactly the same.
What about the Easter cactus?
The Easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri, also sold as Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri) is a close relative that flowers in spring, mostly around March to May, with red or pink star-shaped flowers. It looks similar when it is not in bloom, so check the segments: rounded edges with fine bristles at the tips.
It is a little fussier than the other two. It is more sensitive to both overwatering and underwatering, and it needs its cool, long-night rest in winter rather than autumn to set spring buds.
Do they need different care?
Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti are cared for the same way: bright, indirect light, water when the top inch of soil is dry, a fast-draining mix, and long, cool autumn nights to set buds. Our Christmas cactus care guide covers light, watering, soil, feeding and common problems for both.
The only real difference is when you start the bloom treatment: about 12–14 hours of unbroken darkness every night, or cool 50–55°F (10–13°C) nights, for six to eight weeks.
| Plant | Start long or cool nights | Flowers |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving cactus | Mid-September | Mid to late November |
| Christmas cactus | Mid-October | December |
| Easter cactus | Late January | March to May |
Once buds have formed, stop the treatment and leave the plant in one spot. Moving it, drafts and dry soil are the usual reasons buds drop before they open.
Grow all three for flowers from November to May
Because the three plants flower at different times, a small collection gives you colour for half the year. A few things make it easier:
- Label the pots. Once the flowers drop, a Thanksgiving and a Christmas cactus look alike from across the room. A plant marker saves guessing next autumn.
- Give each its own start date. If both go into the same closet routine on the same day, they will flower closer together instead of one after the other.
- Share cuttings. All three grow easily from pieces of two or three segments. Let the cut ends dry for a day, then stand them upright in moist vermiculite or cactus mix. Label the cuttings too.
- Repot rarely. All three flower best slightly pot-bound. Every three years or so, in spring, is enough.
Are holiday cacti safe for cats and dogs?
The ASPCA lists Christmas cactus (with Easter cactus as another name on the same entry) as non-toxic to cats and dogs, and Thanksgiving cactus belongs to the same genus. That makes holiday cacti some of the safest seasonal plants to keep with pets. A pet that chews a lot of any plant can still get a mild upset stomach, so keep them out of reach of determined nibblers.
Christmas cactus vs Thanksgiving cactus FAQ
Is a holiday cactus the same as a Christmas cactus?
“Holiday cactus” is a catch-all name stores use for all three: Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter cactus. Check the segment edges to find out which one you have.
Can a Thanksgiving cactus bloom at Christmas?
Yes. If it gets its long nights later in autumn, or the room is warm, it can flower in December. Some plants also flower a second time later in winter.
Why is my Christmas cactus blooming at Thanksgiving?
It is almost certainly a Thanksgiving cactus. Look for pointed teeth on the segment edges and yellow pollen in the flowers.
Which one should I buy?
Choose by when you want flowers. Thanksgiving cactus for late autumn colour, Christmas cactus for December, Easter cactus for spring. Grow two or three and you can have flowers from November to May.
Sources: Clemson Cooperative Extension, Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti; NC State Extension, Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus?; Farmers’ Almanac, the three holiday cacti; ASPCA, Christmas cactus.
One Response