# 4865 - 2014 First-Class Forever Stamp - Winter Flowers: Christmas Cactus

This stamp is part of a set of four winter flowers. Each stamp shows a close-up of the plant in full-blown.

 

In terms of popularity, the Christmas cactus is second only to the poinsettia during the holiday season. While its foliage is striking all year round, the cactus’ blossoms appear from late October through Christmas time, adding a splash of color and giving the plant its name.

 

Despite its name, the Christmas cactus is native to Brazil’s rainforests. The plant is an epiphyte, which is a type of plant that grows above the ground and needs other objects for physical support, usually other plants or trees. 

 

The plant will also live for several decades, growing into an enormous specimen that may produce hundreds of colorful blossoms.  Sunlight and temperature also play a role in the care of the Christmas cactus. The plant prefers bright, indirect light. But if the leaves are exposed to excessive light, they turn red. Cool night temperatures help to force blossoms. 

 

Stamp artist William Low photographed potted plants at the peak of their blooming as the models for these stamps. He then created digital paintings of the flowers.

 

Value: 49¢ First-class rate

Issued: February 14, 2014
City: Little Rock, AR, at the American Philatelic Society AmeriStamp Expo 2014
Type of Stamp: Definitive
Printed By: Banknote Corporation of America for Sennett Security Products
Printing Method: Lithographed printed in sheets of 160 with 8 panes of 20 per sheet
Perforations: Serpentine Die Cut 11
Self-Adhesive

Quantity: 125,000,000