Do you Love Christmas Cactus? Then check out similar Houseplants You’ll Adore in your home for a cheerful, festive vibe.
For a plant enthusiast, a holiday season seems bare without a Christmas cactus. The segmented stem and vivid blooms are synonymous with a joyful Christmas time. But is this the only plant with such physical features? Not at all! Here are some houseplants that’ll surely confuse you due to their similarity in appearance and growing needs!
Love Christmas Cactus? Similar Houseplants You’ll Adore
1. Easter Cactus
Botanical Name: Hatiora gaertneri
The Easter Cactus is a close relative of the Christmas Cactus, with flat, segmented stems and brightly colored flowers. However, it can be distinguished by its pointier blooms and rounded scallops on its stems.
Another key difference is timing: the Christmas Cactus blooms in winter, while the Easter Cactus flowers in spring, around Easter.
2. Fishbone Cactus
Botanical Name: Epiphyllum anguliger
Don’t be fooled by the fishbone cactus as it has flattened stems that can seem to be segmented like the Christmas cactus but, in reality, are wavy or in a zigzag pattern; hence, it is also called the zig-zag cactus.
This unique succulent also produces fragrant white flowers in the fall season that bloom at night. You can grow it in hanging baskets to show off its cascading stems.
3. Orchid Cactus
Botanical Name: Epiphyllum
The Orchid Cactus, also known as the Queen of the Night, shares physical traits and growing habits with the Christmas Cactus. Orchid cacti can be identified by their flat but arching stems and large, bowl-shaped, colorful night-blooming flowers, which are highly fragrant.
The options to display this plant home are innumerable. They do well in hanging baskets or containers indoors on a plant stand, while outdoors in hot climates, they can be included in nighttime gardens or as border plants.
4. Chain Cactus
Botanical Name: Rhipsalis paradoxa
As the name indicates, the Chain cactus resembles an interlocked chain due to the shape of its single or branching twisting, segmented stems. It also produces flowers; however, its white flowers are much smaller than that of the Christmas cactus.
This plant is a perfect alternative to the Christmas cactus if you are short on space as the chain cactus remains compact, rarely reaching 1 foot, and grows extremely slowly.
5. Lipstick Plant
Botanical Name: Aeschynanthus radicans
The Lipstick plant is an exception in this list as it is not a true succulent but is considered a semi-succulent gesneriad with a vining growth habit. It mimics the Christmas cactus due to fiery red tubular flowers that emerge through fleshy dark green oblong leaves.
Not only are its physical traits similar to the Christmas cactus, but so are its growth requirements. It thrives in bright, indirect sunlight, along with warm and humid environments.
6. Dog Tail Cactus
Botanical Name: Selenicereus testudo
The Dog Tail Cactus is more like a 3D version of the Christmas Cactus as the latter has flat stems while the Dog Tail Cactus has long, cylindrical, and hairy trailing stems. They imitate the appearance of the tail of a furry animal, like a dog, hence the name.
The flower is the part where the two houseplants are similar! The Dog Tail cactus blooms with cup-shaped white flowers (though it rarely does so indoors). This plant has a pendulous form and, hence, does well in hanging baskets!
