Kalanchoe
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Bryophyllum
- Vereia
- Phonetic Spelling
- ka-lan-KOH-ee
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Kalanchoe is a genus of tropical, perennial succulents native to Africa and Asia. It is a member of the stonecrop or orpine family (Crassulaceae) and has 174 accepted species. It is prized for its long-lasting, colorful, showy flowers and interesting, succulent foliage. Toothed succulent leaves, thick branched stems, and cymose inflorescences are key ID features. The genus name, Kalanchoe, is derived from the Chinese words kalan chau, meaning "that which falls and grows." This references the species such as Kalanchoe daigremontiana that have leaves that produce plantlets that drop off and produce new plants where they land.
Outside of the tropics, this plant prefers interior sites with bright indirect sunlight, dry soil, and low relative humidity. Water these plants well and then allow the soil to dry out between waterings. These plants are winter hardy in zones 9 to 12. They prefer temperatures between 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. They can be planted in a container and brought indoors over the winter before the temperatures drop below 50 degrees F. They are also grown as a specialty desert-type plant and for temporary color. Being a succulent, they are drought tolerant once established. Plants of this genus may be propagated by division, offsets, stem cuttings, or leaf cuttings.
Kalanchoe plants may be compact, bushy, trailing, erect, shrub-like or tree-like. Their size varies depending on the species. Most species range between 6 inches to 2 feet tall and equally as wide, but some grow up to 3-4 feet tall. Their leaves are fleshy and thick which allows them to store water. The flowers can appear in clusters or single blooms depending on the species. The bloom color is vibrant and the shades vary from red, orange, yellow, pink, or white. To encourage blooming, these plants need 12 hours of darkness and less than 12 hours of daylight for 6 weeks. Some species of Kalanchoe are viviparous and produce plantlets at leaf edges.
This genus of plants are often used as ornamental plants in rock gardens, containers, or houseplants. The foliage is unique and will add color and texture to your landscape or houseplant collection.
- Leaves are succulent, flattened, and toothed
- Flowers are salverform, have 4 petals, and are in cymes to umbels
- Flowers are sticky
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for mealybugs, aphids and brown scale. Root rot can result from overwatering. Powdery mildew can also occur.
The plants in this genus are toxic to humans and pets if ingested. Keep these plants out of reach of children and pets. Wear protective gloves when handling these plants to prevent contact dermatitis.
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Kalanchoe beharensis (Velvet Leaf Kalanchoe)
3 to 5 ft. tall, tree-like shrub, arrowhead-shaped, rusty brown colored leaves with felt-like hairs, greenish-yellow blooms
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (Christmas Kalanchoe or Florist Kalanchoe)
- Kalanchoe luciae (Paddle Plant)
1-2 ft. tall, basal rosette, jade green rounded leaves with red edges, pale yellow flowers - Kalanchoe marmorata (Penwiper Plant or Spotted Kalanchoe)
up to 1.5 ft. tall, green leaves that are mottled with white or pale markings, tubular white or pink flowers - Kalanchoe marnieriana (Marnier's Kalanchoe)
1-2 ft. tall, flat, rounded, blue-green, paddle-shaped leaves with reddish tip, rose pink to red blooms
Kalanchoe tomentosa (Panda Plant)
upright, multi-branched, dark green, glossy leaves with scalloped edges, red, pink, orange, yellow, or white blooms Kalanchoe bracteata (Silver Teaspoons)
up to 5 ft. tall, fleshy, grayish-white to olive green leaves with silver hairs Kalanchoe daigremontiana (Mother of Thousands)
erect to decumbent, dark green leaves with undersides blotched with purple, leaf produces plantlets, pink/lavender blooms Kalanchoe delagoensis (Mother of Millions or Chandelier Plant)
reddish-green to grayish green leaves with reddish brown spots, reddish-orange tubular blooms
erect, rosette of pale green leaves densely covered with white fuzz with brown spotted margins - Kalanchoe beharensis (Velvet Leaf Kalanchoe)
- Kalanchoe beharensis (Velvet Leaf Kalanchoe), Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (Christmas Kalanchoe or Florist Kalanchoe), Kalanchoe bracteata (Silver Teaspoons), Kalanchoe daigremontiana (Mother of Thousands), Kalanchoe delagoensis (Mother of Millions or Chandelier Plant), Kalanchoe luciae (Paddle Plant), Kalanchoe marmorata (Penwiper Plant or Spotted Kalanchoe), Kalanchoe marnieriana (Marnier's Kalanchoe), Kalanchoe tomentosa (Panda Plant)
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Kalanchoe beharensis (Velvet Leaf Kalanchoe)
3 to 5 ft. tall, tree-like shrub, arrowhead-shaped, rusty brown colored leaves with felt-like hairs, greenish-yellow blooms
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (Christmas Kalanchoe or Florist Kalanchoe)
- Kalanchoe luciae (Paddle Plant)
1-2 ft. tall, basal rosette, jade green rounded leaves with red edges, pale yellow flowers - Kalanchoe marmorata (Penwiper Plant or Spotted Kalanchoe)
up to 1.5 ft. tall, green leaves that are mottled with white or pale markings, tubular white or pink flowers - Kalanchoe marnieriana (Marnier's Kalanchoe)
1-2 ft. tall, flat, rounded, blue-green, paddle-shaped leaves with reddish tip, rose pink to red blooms
Kalanchoe tomentosa (Panda Plant)
upright, multi-branched, dark green, glossy leaves with scalloped edges, red, pink, orange, yellow, or white blooms Kalanchoe bracteata (Silver Teaspoons)
up to 5 ft. tall, fleshy, grayish-white to olive green leaves with silver hairs Kalanchoe daigremontiana (Mother of Thousands)
erect to decumbent, dark green leaves with undersides blotched with purple, leaf produces plantlets, pink/lavender blooms Kalanchoe delagoensis (Mother of Millions or Chandelier Plant)
reddish-green to grayish green leaves with reddish brown spots, reddish-orange tubular blooms
erect, rosette of pale green leaves densely covered with white fuzz with brown spotted margins - Kalanchoe beharensis (Velvet Leaf Kalanchoe)
- Kalanchoe beharensis (Velvet Leaf Kalanchoe), Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (Christmas Kalanchoe or Florist Kalanchoe), Kalanchoe bracteata (Silver Teaspoons), Kalanchoe daigremontiana (Mother of Thousands), Kalanchoe delagoensis (Mother of Millions or Chandelier Plant), Kalanchoe luciae (Paddle Plant), Kalanchoe marmorata (Penwiper Plant or Spotted Kalanchoe), Kalanchoe marnieriana (Marnier's Kalanchoe), Kalanchoe tomentosa (Panda Plant)
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Kalanchoe
- Family:
- Crassulaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Several species are used in medicine to treat inflammatory conditions wounds, gastric ulcers and other diseases.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Leaf Cutting
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Africa, Asia
- Distribution:
- Native: Anola, Bangladesh, Botswana, Camboid, Cameroon, Cape Provinces, Central African Republic, China, Congo, East Himalaya, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, India Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Philippines, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, Uganda, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Yemen, Zambia, Zaire, and Zimbabwe. Introduced: Argentina Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Borneo, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, New South Wales, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Queensland, South Australia, Venezuela, Western Australia, and the United States--AL, Fl, HI, and TX.
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bees and butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Succulent
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Panicle
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are unscented, salverform (tubular), and fleshy. Corolla is 4-lobed and fleshy. Calyx is 4-lobed, fleshy, and small. Flowers have 8 stamens in 2 whorls of 4. They can be colored in ranges of red to yellow, pink to white and have a sticky gland. Some hang in a bell-like way. Inflorescence is a panicle of cymes or an umbel. Double-flowered cultivars are available.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Smooth
- Velvety
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Orbicular
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are opposite, simple, fleshy, succulent, and flattened. Some species are toothed, others scalloped, others entire. They may be green or purple-grey with a waxy coating or even fuzzy depending on the species. Bright sunlight can sometimes change the leaf color. They are often viviparous and form plantlets at leaf edges. Variegated cultivars are available.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are fleshy and woody at the base.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Rock Wall
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs