Kalanchoe bracteata aka hildebrandtii
Kalanchoe bracteata aka hildebrandtii
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Names and Synonyms:
Kalanchoe hildebrandtii, Kalanchoe nadyae
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Common Names:
Silver teaspoons
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Family:
Crassulaceae
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Origin:
South Eastern Madagascar and the Comoros
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Height:
2-4’
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Width:
2-4’
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Cold Tolerance:
25 to 30°F; -3.9 to -1.1°C
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Heat Tolerance:
High heat tolerance
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Light Requirement:
Light shade in hot interior climates to full sun elsewhere
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Water needs:
Kalanchoe bracteata is drought tolerant, but tolerates some irrigation in well-drained soils, especially during the growing season in summer.
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Maintenance:
Prune to shape as desired
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Uses:
Kalanchoe bracteata makes a nice contrast to plants with dark foliage and is great in pots or as an accent or even a small border hedge in the dry garden. It is also appropriate for succulent and cactus gardens in near frost-free climates.
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Propagation:
It can easily be propagated by taking stem cuttings and replanting them. It can also be grown from seed.
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Problems:
Occasional problems with mealybugs and aphids when grown as a houseplant.
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Special notes:
Kalanchoe bracteata has attractive silvery-gray pubescent leaves held opposite each other on the stems. It forms a small open shrub over time with leaves year-round. In spring and summer this plant blooms on panicles with orange-red cruciform flowers.
The plant should be fertilized every six weeks during growth. Plants can become leggy with age, but can be pruned to create a more dense growth pattern. Leaf burn occurs with frost so plants should be protected from freezing weather.
Kalanchoe bracteata was described by George Francis Scott-Elliot.
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Research Links:
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