Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Cactus or Succulent
  
Flowering Plants, Herbs
  
Origin
North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Central America, South America
  
Hybrid origin
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Coastal Mountains, Humid climates
  
moist forests, Mountains
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
  
4-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
  
9-2
  
Sunset Zone
Not Available
  
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Purple
  
Purple, Pink, Lavender
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Pink
  
Brown
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Toothed
  
Pinnate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Not Available
  
Late Spring, Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Drought, Salt
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Stem Planting, Transplanting
  
Cuttings, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water
  
Needs very little water
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Requires little pruning
  
cut main trunk every 5 years, Prune after flowering, Prune central stem, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Compost
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Nematodes, Red blotch, Trunk Rot
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Not Available
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Butterflies, Leaf Hoppers
  
Allergy
Eye irritation, sneezing
  
Itchiness, Not Available, Sore Throat
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beautification
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes, Removes pimples
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, soil stabilisation
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Cough, Haemorrhages, Laxative, Obesity, Tonic
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
  
Fruits, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Christmas Tree, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Added to salads, Can be boiled and seasoned, pickled, Culinary use
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
SCHLUMBERGERA x buckleyi
  
Averrhoa bilimbi
  
Common Name
Thanksgiving Cactus, Crab Cactus
  
Bilimbi, Mimbro
  
In Hindi
क्रिसमस कैक्टस
  
Bilimbi
  
In German
Weihnachtskaktus
  
bilimbi
  
In French
Cactus de Noël
  
bilimbi
  
In Spanish
Cactus de Navidad
  
bilimbi
  
In Greek
Χριστούγεννα Cactus
  
bilimbi
  
In Portuguese
Cacto de Natal
  
bilimbi
  
In Polish
Christmas Cactus
  
bilimbi
  
In Latin
Nativitatis Cactus
  
Rondo Beardtongue
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Oxalidales
  
Family
Cactaceae
  
Oxalidaceae
  
Genus
Schlumbergera
  
Averrhoa
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Cactoideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Season and Care of Christmas Cactus and Bilimbi
Season and care of Christmas Cactus and Bilimbi is important to know. While considering everything about Christmas Cactus and Bilimbi Care, growing season is an essential factor. Christmas Cactus season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Bilimbi season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Christmas Cactus is Loam, Sand and for Bilimbi is Clay, Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Christmas Cactus is Acidic, Neutral and for Bilimbi is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline.
Christmas Cactus and Bilimbi Physical Information
Christmas Cactus and Bilimbi physical information is very important for comparison. Christmas Cactus height is 45.70 cm and width 71.10 cm whereas Bilimbi height is 38.10 cm and width 25.40 cm. The color specification of Christmas Cactus and Bilimbi are as follows:
Christmas Cactus flower color: Purple
Christmas Cactus leaf color: Green and Dark Green
Bilimbi flower color: Purple, Pink and Lavender
- Bilimbi leaf color: Green
Care of Christmas Cactus and Bilimbi
Care of Christmas Cactus and Bilimbi include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Christmas Cactus pruning is done Prune if you want to improve plant shape and Requires little pruning and Bilimbi pruning is done cut main trunk every 5 years, Prune after flowering, Prune central stem, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves. In summer Christmas Cactus needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Bilimbi needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.