Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Central America, South America
Southern Europe, Western Europe
Types
Schlumbergera
Sempervivum altum, Sempervivum davisii, Sempervivum juvanii
Number of Varieties
1540
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Mountains, Humid climates
limestone outcrops, Rocky areas, Stone and Masonry fences and walls
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99995-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
8-1
Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Rosette/Stemless
Plant Size
Minimum Height
45.70 cm10.20 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
71.10 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple
Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Pink
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Blue Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Blue Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Blue Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green
Blue Green, Burgundy
Shape
Leaf Shape
Toothed
V-Shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
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
Do Not over 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
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
-
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
20-20-20 amount, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Mealybugs, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
-
Allergy
Eye irritation, sneezing
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Antipruritic, Astringent, Diuretic, Odontalgic
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Leaves
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Christmas Tree, Used as Ornamental plant
Cosmetics, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Alpine, Container, Groundcover, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
SCHLUMBERGERA x buckleyi
SEMPERVIVUM calcareum
Common Name
Thanksgiving Cactus, Crab Cactus
Houseleek, Common houseleek
In Hindi
क्रिसमस कैक्टस
houseleek
In German
Weihnachtskaktus
Hauswurz
In French
Cactus de Noël
joubarbe
In Spanish
Cactus de Navidad
houseleek
In Greek
Χριστούγεννα Cactus
houseleek
In Portuguese
Cacto de Natal
houseleek
In Polish
Christmas Cactus
houseleek
In Latin
Nativitatis Cactus
AMERIMNON
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Rosales
Family
Cactaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Schlumbergera
Sempervivum
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Sedeae
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Sedoideae
Number of Species
640
1
27800
👆🏻