Native records: 1 botanical areas
Brazil Southeast
See all areasNatural distribution
Explore mapNativeIntroducedUncertain
Distribution is shown as WGSRPD Level 3 areas. It does not imply the species occurs throughout an entire area.
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Distribution last verified:
An epiphytic cactus in the family Cactaceae, endemic to the coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil. Distinctive flat stem segments with pointed marginal teeth and showy flowers in late autumn. Widely cultivated as a winter-flowering houseplant.
Description
An epiphytic or lithophytic cactus with flattened, segmented stems (cladodes) that have conspicuous pointed teeth along the margins, distinguishing it from the Christmas cactus (S. × buckleyi). Lacks spines; produces prominent flowers with tubular pericarpels and numerous stamens at stem tips. Flower colors range widely: red, purple, orange, pink, and white. In its native habitat, it grows on tree branches or rocks in humid rainforests, adapted to moist tropical conditions rather than arid desert environments. Widely cultivated worldwide as an ornamental, often confused with Christmas cactus but blooms primarily in November (Thanksgiving).
Habitat
Endemic to the coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil (Rio de Janeiro region) within the Atlantic Forest biome. Grows as an epiphyte on trees or lithophyte on rocks at elevations around 600–1300m in humid montane forests. Adapted to warm, humid conditions and relatively drought-tolerant but not a typical desert cactus.
Distribution areas
Brazil
- Brazil SoutheastNative
Viet Nam
- VietnamIntroduced
Climate of the native range
The Köppen climate classes found in the areas this plant is recorded as native to. It does not mean an entire area has that climate.
- Aw Tropical, savannah
- Cwa Temperate, dry winter, hot summer
The same climate occurs in 54 areas worldwide, 52 of which have no record of this plant. See them on the map
A matching climate does not mean the plant can grow there. Range limits are also set by things other than climate — dispersal history, soils, competition. Source: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0 (observed period 1991–2020).
Other names
Thanksgiving cactus、Crab cactus、False Christmas cactus、Holiday cactus
- Family
- Cactaceae
- Genus
- Schlumbergera
Other species in Schlumbergera
- Schlumbergera kautskyiChristmas Cactus
- Schlumbergera lutea
- Schlumbergera microsphaericaChristmas Cactus
- Schlumbergera opuntioidesChristmas Cactus
- Schlumbergera orssichiana
- Schlumbergera russelliana
Sources
World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04
Brazil · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv
Open sourceWorld Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04
Viet Nam · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv
Open source
Image information
Photograph of Schlumbergera truncata
JennTM · CC BY-SA 4.0 · File page