Scientific Name
Kalanchoe beauverdii Raym.-Hamet
Common Name(s)
Beauverd's Widow's-thrill, Sotre-Sotry
Synonym(s)
Bryophyllum beauverdii, Kalanchoe beauverdii var. beauverdii
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sedoideae
Tribe: Kalanchoeae
Genus: Kalanchoe
Etymology
The specific epithet "beauverdii (bow-VER-dee-eye)" honors the Swiss botanist Gustave Beauverd (1867–1942).
Origin
Kalanchoe beauverdii is native to the dry shrubland forests of southern and southwestern Madagascar. It grows at elevations ranging from sea level to 2,790 feet (850 m).
Description
Kalanchoe beauverdii is a succulent climber with slender stems that bear green leaves streaked with purple and usually with a waxy bloom. The stems are prolifically branched, woody-wiry below, and grow along the ground or climb with support, reaching up to 16.4 feet (5 m) in length. The leaves vary in shape and size, ranging from linear, narrowly spatulate, hastate, ovate to oblong, sometimes trilobate-hastate. They hold in widely opposite pairs alternating 90 degrees from the last pair, measuring up to 4.4 inches (11 cm) long and 1.6 inches (4 cm) wide, and have numerous easily detached bulbils on the teeth.
During winter and spring, Kalanchoe beauverdii produces pale green to grey-green flowers streaked with red-purple. The bell-shaped flowers hang downwards in terminal clusters.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Kalanchoe care is minimal, but be cautious about light levels. Intense sunlight can burn the tips of the leaves. When growing Kalanchoes, place pots in partial sun to light shade areas.
The flowering varieties are highly rewarding for their colorful and long-lasting flowers. They prefer bright, sunny locations, especially in the growing season. Water moderately from fall to winter when the growth is most active. Reduce watering during the hottest summer months when the plants are mostly dormant and winter when the growth slows significantly. Let the soil surface dry out between waterings. Watch the fleshy leaves for signs of water distress. An ordinary potting soil mix is fine. Feed bi-weekly during the growing season with a liquid fertilizer, or use slow-release pellets.
These small plants require repotting every few years. When repotting, take additional care in handling, as the leaves are somewhat brittle and can snap easily. Clay pots work exceptionally well for planting Kalanchoes. Ensure pots drain well and saucers empty easily.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Kalanchoe.
Links
- Back to genus Kalanchoe
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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