Epiphytic plant often used in hanging baskets and confused with s. הbuckleyi, the flattened segments mostly 20-30 cm long and arching over; margins with 2-4 forward pointing teeth on each side; midrib prominent. Flowers bilaterally symmetrical. [Zygocactus truncactus (Haw.) K. Schum.]

SE Brazil

In the late 1980s Brindley's Nurseries of New South Wales acquired the Australian rights to the new varieties developed by B. L. Cobia Inc. of North America. Modern cultivars mostly imported from North America include the following:

'Christmas Charm' (magenta, introduced 1977 from North America)

'Christmas Cheer' (salmon, an old European cultivar commercially produced since the 1960s)

'Christmas Fantasy' (prolific pale salmon flowers, introduced from North America 1986)

'Christmas Flame' (int. 1988 as sport of 'Gold Charm', reddish toned at first becoming deeper yellow than 'Gold Charm')

'Gold Charm' (first yellow flower cultivar)

'Holiday Splendour' (magenta).

'Kris Kringle' (red, introduced from North America 1974)

'Lavender Doll' (lavender, introduced from North America 1974)

'Peach Parfait' (peach, introduced from North America 1974)

'Red Radiance' (red, introduced from North America 1977)

'Twilight Tangerine' (tangerine, introduced from North America 1977)

'White Christmas' (white, introduced from North America 1973)

 

S. orssichiana Barthlott & MacMillan is occasionally grown and is similar but with curled segments and large flowers to 9 cm wide; it was only discovered in 1974 and hybrids with S. truncata have been named S. הreginae McMillan & Orssich.

Source: Thompson, A, ; Forbes, S.; Spencer, R. (1997). Cactaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.