Types of Kalanchoe for Every Green Thumb: Exploring 8 Simple Kalanchoe Varieties Perfect for Plant Enthusiasts
=========================================================
Kalanchoes are a popular choice for indoor plants, known for their hardiness and unique foliage. Here are some lesser-known Kalanchoe varieties that will add a touch of exotic beauty to your home.
The Mother of Thousands, or Kalanchoe laetivirens, is a plant that truly lives up to its name. This plant is known for its numerous plantlets located along the edges of the leaves, resembling the spikes of a devil's backbone or the hats of Mexican hat people. It's also called the alligator plant due to the textured pattern on its leaves.
Another captivating variety is Marnier's Kalanchoe, or Kalanchoe marnieriana. This plant produces small, pink flowers and has fleshy, elongated leaves. The Chandelier kalanchoe, similar to Kalanchoe 'Tarantula', boasts unusual elongated foliage, similar to a spider's legs.
For those who appreciate colorful foliage, Kalanchoe 'Fire Rainbow' is a must-have. This variegated hybrid features ivory, green, and bright pink leaves, and it produces plantlets when its leaves touch the ground and root.
The Panda Plant, or Kalanchoe tomentosa, is another popular choice. It's known for its fuzzy, rounded leaves and cultivars such as 'Teddy Bear' and 'Chocolate Soldier'. The Desert Surprise, or Kalanchoe daigremontiana, has fleshy, elongated leaves and small, yellow flowers.
If you're looking for something truly unusual, the Velvet Leaf Kalanchoe, scientifically known as Kalanchoe beharensis, might be the one for you. This large plant has arrow-shaped leaves covered in soft gray hairs and a rusty red tint. Flapjack, or Kalanchoe luciae or Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, is also known as the Paddle Plant due to its saucer-shaped, thickened leaves that layer like a stack of pancakes.
Some other uncommon but easy-to-grow varieties include Kalanchoe tomentosa 'Cinnamon', with deep green leaves and brownish-red margins covered in fine, velvety hairs. The Walking Kalanchoe, or Kalanchoe synsepala var. dissecta, is notable for its narrow, dissected leaves that are green with purple edges. Kalanchoe 'Oak Leaf' has fuzzy gray-green foliage with deeply lobed, serrated edges, while Kalanchoe 'Magic Bell' stands out with slender upright stems topped with delicate, bell-shaped flowers.
These Kalanchoes, like the common varieties, require bright light and well-drained soil. They are suitable for indoor cultivation and are forgiving for novice gardeners. Their unique foliage textures and shapes set them apart from more common Kalanchoe varieties, making them a perfect choice for adding a touch of the exotic to your home.
[1] Kalanchoe tomentosa 'Cinnamon' [2] Kalanchoe synsepala var. dissecta (Walking Kalanchoe) [3] Kalanchoe 'Oak Leaf' [4] Kalanchoe 'Magic Bell' [5] Kalanchoe 'Fire Rainbow'
- The Walking Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe synsepala var. dissecta) will add an interesting texture to your home-and-garden aesthetics with its narrow, dissected leaves that are green with purple edges.
- Kalanchoe 'Fire Rainbow' is a vibrant addition to your home-and-garden lifestyle, with its variegated foliage featuring ivory, green, and bright pink leaves.
