Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Flowering Plants, Shrubs
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
America
North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Central America, South America
Types
Lobelia aberdarica, Lobelia leschenaultiana, Lobelia canbyi
Schlumbergera
Number of Varieties
41515
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Open areas, River side, Woods
Coastal Mountains, Humid climates
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
8-1
12-1
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
0.54 cm45.70 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
0.38 cm71.10 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Blue, Red, Violet, White
Purple
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
Pink
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green, Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Cushion
Toothed
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Fall, Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Well drained
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Fall, Early Summer, Late Summer, Mid fall, Mid Spring
-
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Stem Planting, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Form a Soil ring to water efficiently, Prefer drip-irrigation instead of Over-head watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Use Mulches to help prevent water loss during hot and windy weather, Water twice a day in the initial period
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Well drained
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Prune after flowering, Prune to control growth, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Requires little pruning
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Botrytis Blight, Crown rot, Pythium rot, Stem spot
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Hummingbirds
-
Allergy
coma, convulsions, Diarrhea, exhaustion, Nausea, salivation, Vomiting, weakness
Eye irritation, sneezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bouquets, Showy Purposes, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Bronchitis, Croup
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Seeds
Leaves
Other Uses
Showy Purposes
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Christmas Tree, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Bog Garden, Edging, Foundation, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
Lobelia laxiflora
SCHLUMBERGERA x buckleyi
Common Name
Lobelia
Thanksgiving Cactus, Crab Cactus
In Hindi
Lobelia
क्रिसमस कैक्टस
In German
Lobelie
Weihnachtskaktus
In French
Lobelia
Cactus de Noël
In Spanish
Lobelia
Cactus de Navidad
In Greek
λοβηλία
Χριστούγεννα Cactus
In Portuguese
Lobélia
Cacto de Natal
In Polish
Lobelia
Christmas Cactus
In Latin
Lobelia
Nativitatis Cactus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Anthophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Dicotyledonae
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asterales
Caryophyllales
Family
Campanulaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Lobelia
Schlumbergera
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Lobelioideae
Cactoideae
Number of Species
4156
1
27800
👆🏻