Easter Cactus – Hatiora X graeseri

Common Name: Easter Cactus

Botanical Name: Hatiora X graeseri, ha-ti-OR-a

Decorative Life: Depending on cultivar, individual flower life ranges from 7-12 days thus allowing the plant to be enjoyed for weeks considering the range of flower maturities present on most plants. In one study and of the cultivars tested, only 'Mira' exhibited relatively short individual flower life.

Flower Color: Pink, Red, White

Availability: Spring

• Member of the Cactaceae (cactus family) with common relatives such as prickly-pear, Christmas cactus and most other plants called cacti.
• Native to Southeastern Brazil. It is a dicotyledon, resulting from a cross between H. gaertneri and H. rosea.

• Flowers 1.5-3.0 inches in diameter with a range of colors including pink, red and white.
• Flowers are not fragrant.

• An anagram of Hariota, a generic name commemorating Thomas Hariot (1560-1621), English scientist and historian and a mentor of Sir Walter Raleigh.
• Most commonly but incorrectly called Schlumbergera.
• Most are epiphytes as they often grow on other plants or elevated supports as if they are growing in air.
• Individual flowers of Easter Cactus cultivars generally last about twice as long as Christmas Cactus. (Schlumbergera) cultivars.

A note to breeders, Karle and Boyle (1999) demonstrated that breeding procedures can greatly influence subsequent flower longevity.