Difference Between a Christmas Cactus & an Easter Cactus

Time Frame

• The Christmas cactus blooms in winter when temperatures are cooler. Easter cactus plants bloom mainly in the springtime and can blossom more than once in a year naturally.

Features

• The leaves on the Easter cactus have jagged "teeth" on the segments. The Christmas cactus has leaves with curving or scalloped edging on the segments.

Leaves

• The Christmas cactus leaf is a shiny green with purple edging on the jagged segments or phylloclads. Leaves of the Easter cactus are a duller, deeper green color.

Blossom Color

• Easter cactus blossoms are pink, rose mauve, purple and red while the dwarf Easter cactus has rose-red flowers. Christmas cactus flowers blossom at the stem tip in red, pink, purple orange and cream.

Fun Fact

• Easter and Christmas are tropical cactus plants that grow wild on trees in Central and South America.