Here are some of the best white Christmas cactus varieties for your holiday displays with white flowers of unique shapes and soft blush tones!
If you love Christmas cactus blooms but want something a little softer, white Christmas cactus varieties are a lovely choice for holiday displays. We’ve rounded up some of the best white-flowering cultivars, including Thanksgiving cactus varieties, too.
We included them as they’re closely related to Christmas cactus and have played a big role in developing today’s white-flowering hybrids. True Christmas cactus is traditionally known for pink or magenta blooms (it comes from Schlumbergera russelliana), so many of the white varieties we love today trace their genes back to Schlumbergera truncata. Let’s see them!
Best White Christmas Cactus Varieties
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1. White Christmas
Botanical Name: Schlumbergera ‘White Christmas’
If you have ever wished your Christmas cactus looked like a fresh winter snowfall, ‘White Christmas’ comes closest to that dream.
Its blooms open in creamy-white petals that look even brighter under light and eventually may develop a faint blush of pink only at the edges, depending on temperature.
Like other Christmas cacti, it needs the right combination of shorter days and cool nights to set buds. Once the flowers open, the dangling stems make it especially pretty in a hanging planter or on a high shelf.
Just make sure to keep the plant in a cool, bright spot during bud formation and avoid sudden changes in temperature, which can cause developing buds to drop.
If you don’t already have one, purchase a hanging planter with drainage holes and a removable tray from here.
2. Samba Brazil White
Botanical Name: Schlumbergera truncata ‘Samba Brazil’
Here is one for gardeners who prefer a softer white rather than a stark snowy shade. The ‘Samba Brazil’ variety produces pale blooms that can carry creamy or lightly tinted tones.
If you’re growing one on a tabletop, look closely at the stems before buying. The shape of the stem segments can tell you quite a bit about the type of holiday cactus you’re getting, since S. truncata types have pointed teeth along their segments.
Pro Tip: Give it bright, filtered light while it is actively growing. And, yes, always remember that too much direct sun can leave holiday cactus segments pale or scorched.
In case you don’t have a table, you can go ahead and get yourself a plant stand from here.
3. Christmas Flame White
Botanical Name: Schlumbergera truncata ‘Christmas Flame’
This one is worth growing if you like unusual flower shapes. The petals curve outward in a way that gives the blooms a flame-like appearance. And this makes the white flowers look quite different from a typical rounded bloom!
Since this is a Schlumbergera truncata type, its stem segments have the pointed, claw-like edges that help distinguish Thanksgiving cactus from true Christmas cactus.
It’s a small detail, but a useful one when you’re comparing plants at a nursery. Besides, don’t move the plant around once the buds have formed.
Also, sudden changes in temperature, light, or watering can cause holiday cactus buds to drop. Because this one tends to flower earlier than most other varieties!
4. Snow White
Botanical Name: Schlumbergera ‘Snow White’
As the name suggests, ‘Snow White’ is a lovely choice if you’re after a clean, wintry display. Its pale flowers look pretty against the darker green segments, and some blooms can even develop a slight tint as they mature!
The bloom timing depends on the plant’s genetics as well as temperature and day length, so different cultivars can flower at slightly different times.
If you want flowers around the holidays, start giving the plant cool nights and long, uninterrupted periods of darkness several weeks beforehand.
Get yourself a grow light for your lovely plant if natural light is limited.
5. Snowflake
Botanical Name: Schlumbergera truncata ‘Snowflake’
‘Snowflake’ has a softer appearance, with creamy-white flowers and a slightly ruffled look. It also has a nice branching habit, so a mature plant can give a fuller look with proper lighting conditions
Here is a hack if you want more flowers next season. Don’t throw away the stem pieces you remove while pruning.
Holiday cacti root readily from short stem cuttings, so those trimmed segments can become new plants instead of going into the compost pile.
After flowering, pinch or trim a few segments from the tips to encourage branching. Keep the pruning light rather than cutting back large portions of the plant at once.
Get yourself a plant propagation station from here for easy use.
6. Arctic White Hybrid
Botanical Name: Schlumbergera hybrid ‘Arctic White’
If you prefer larger flowers that really stand out, ‘Arctic White’ can be your perfect choice. The pale blooms contrast very well with the green segmented stems.
Because this is a hybrid, its growth and flowering characteristics may not fit neatly into the classic “Christmas cactus” description.
Many holiday-cactus hybrids can vary widely in flower shape, color, branching, and growth habit.
Once buds are developing, keep watering consistent rather than letting the plant become bone-dry and then soaking it heavily. Sudden moisture changes can contribute to bud drop.
Choose to buy a self-watering pot for your plant from here.
With the right care, these beauties will bloom reliably every winter and become long-lived favorites in your collection.
Hey, do you want to learn more about the Christmas cactus? Then buy yourself “The Complete Guide to Christmas Cactus” by Randy Williams from here.
