Kalanchoe luciae “Flapjacks”
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Kalanchoe luciae has unique large, thick, spatula-shaped leaves that have a colorful reddish blush along their margins. The younger leaves and stems have a white, floury coating which serves as a protection from harsh sun. Young leaves grow upright and parallel to each other while older leaves at the base of the plant begin to angle out.
After three or four seasons, Kalanchoe luciae sends up a central flower spike covered in small, tubular, pale-yellow flowers, and then dies. However, the plant produces numerous offsets throughout its life which can be easily replanted. This plant can also be grown in shade where the leaves lose most of their color but retain their interesting form and texture. Direct sun and dry conditions enhance the colors of this succulent.
Kalanchoe luciae is a very attractive lower growing plant for succulent and cactus gardens, and can be used as small scale ground cover or foreground plant in large cactus garden borders. It works great in containers alone or combined with other succulents as well. This plant is not fussy about soils types, and can take take some salty soils as well but it needs good drainage.
Note that K. luciae was formerly mislabeled K. thyrisflora so there is some confusion that that name is a synonym for K. luciae. K. thyrisflora has similar leaves but they do not flush red, and its flowers are lemon yellow and scented.
Horticultural Data
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Names and Synonyms: Kalanchoe thyrsiflora (incorrectly applied, as this is another species)
Common Names: Paddle Plant, Desert Cabbage, Red Pancakes, Flipping flapjacks
Family: Crassulaceae
Origin: South Africa in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and Gauteng, in open, rocky situations and on exposed hilltops.
Size Label: 1 Gallon
Height: 1-2′
Width: 2-3′
Cold Tolerance: 25 to 30°F; -3.9 to -1.1°C
Heat Tolerance: High heat tolerance
Light Requirement: Part shade to full sun
Water needs: Drought tolerant but likes water during the growing season.
Maintenance: Remove spent flower spikes as desired
Uses: A very attractive lower growing plant for succulent and cactus gardens and be used as small scale groundcover or foreground plant in large cactus garden borders. It works great in containers alone or combined with other succulents as well. This plant is not fussy about soils types and can take take some salty soils as well, but it needs good drainage.
Propagation: This is a monocarpic plant that dies after it flowers but produces many offsets after bloom. These can be removed and replanted as desired.
Problems: Requires good drainage, stems will rot in soggy or very wet soils. Snails can disfigure the leaves.
Research Links:
http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=1702
http://www.smgrowers.com/info/kalanchoeluciae.asp
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/165647/
http://kumbulanursery.co.za/plants/kalanchoe-luciae-ssp-luciae
Shipping & Availability
Description | Horticultural Data | Shipping & Availability | Top
There is a minimum purchase of any 4 plants for online orders. All plants shipped bare root. Other sizes may be available for pick up from our growing grounds in Fallbrook, CA. For more information, give us a call at 760-990-4762.
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