Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Grass
Origin
North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Central America, South America
Southwestern United States
Types
Schlumbergera
Muhlenbergia rigens, Muhlenbergia emersleyi
Number of Varieties
155
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Mountains, Humid climates
Sandy areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99997-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12 - 1
Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
45.70 cm30.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
71.10 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple
-
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Pink
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Toothed
Long linear and narrow
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
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
-
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Stem Planting, Transplanting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water
Requires watering in the growing season, Water occasionally
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, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Requires little pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
fertilize in spring
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Birds, Deers, Insects
Allergy
Eye irritation, sneezing
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Ground Cover, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Food for animals, Nesting sites for birds, Shelter for wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Christmas Tree, Used as Ornamental plant
Can be made into a herbal tea, Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Botanical Name
SCHLUMBERGERA x buckleyi
MUHLENBERGIA rigens
Common Name
Thanksgiving Cactus, Crab Cactus
Deer Grass
In Hindi
क्रिसमस कैक्टस
हिरण घास
In German
Weihnachtskaktus
Deer Grass
In French
Cactus de Noël
cerfs Herbe
In Spanish
Cactus de Navidad
Ciervo Hierba
In Greek
Χριστούγεννα Cactus
ελάφια Grass
In Portuguese
Cacto de Natal
cervos grama
In Polish
Christmas Cactus
Deer Trawa
In Latin
Nativitatis Cactus
deer Grass
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Anthophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Poales
Family
Cactaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Schlumbergera
Muhlenbergia
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Chloridoideae
Number of Species
640
1
27800
👆🏻