Walking through my local garden center over the weekend, I expected to see the usual autumnal display — rich foliage, striking grasses, and at least a pumpkin or two. Instead, spooky season had been entirely cleared away days before Halloween had even arrived. In their place stood aisles of tinsel, glittery ornaments, and holiday decor, overshadowing the plants.

While I usually refuse to acknowledge the holidays this early, the sea of sparkle got me thinking about gifting — and how a plant makes a year-round present, not something short-lived.

And once I made my way through the seasonal clutter, I noticed a display of Christmas cacti, and it instantly transported me back to my Nana’s living room. I remember watching her plant in awe and seeing how those extraordinary, jagged leaf segments seemed to chain together before bursting into blooms at their tips.

But on a second look, I noticed another plant with a similar appearance, this time with smooth leaves rather than spiky ones. It turns out I was looking at a real Christmas cactus, and my Nana’s was the Thanksgiving type.

I always assumed there was only one type of holiday cactus, and I’m not alone in thinking that. So to set the record straight, here’s what you need to know about the different types of holiday cacti you can buy.

It can be easy to confuse a Christmas cactus with a Thanksgiving cactus, as they look very similar and flower around the same time of year.

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