Kalanchoe x houghtonii (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Discover 40 Kinds of Kalanchoe

I'm pleased to announce my new 15-minute YouTube video: "Kalanchoe Species and Cultivars: 40 Varieties for Your Garden and Pots."

Fuzzy kalanchoe, from Debra Lee Baldwin video

One category shown in the video

To organize this highly diverse genus, I've divided it into six categories: fuzzy, floriferous, mother of thousands (bryophyllums), paddles, tropicals and rarities.

Note: On this site's Kalanchoe page you'll find a gallery of all 40 labeled, plus additional info.

Kalanchoe gallery (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Kalanchoe gallery, excerpt

In-Depth Overview

Whenever I give an in-depth overview of a particular type of succulent, I draw from decades of photos, books,  online research, and personal expertise. My goal is to present accurate, well illustrated info, which (have you noticed?) is not always found online.

Learning---It's ongoing!

While fact-checking, I realized that a tropical variety growing in a protected area of my garden for a decade---which I'd assumed was Kalanchoe carnea---is actually similar Kalanchoe gastonis-bonnieri.

Kalanchoe gastonis-bonnieri (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Kalanchoe gastonis-bonnieri

Providing this tender kalanchoe the sun- and cold-protection it needs in my garden had caused its leaves to lengthen (seeking more light for photosynthesis), its stems to become floppy (trying to root in a better spot), and it refuses to bloom (not enough sun). All this makes a plant challenging to ID. Faint purple dashes on the leaves---which I'd yet to notice---were the ah-ha! factor.

Kalanchoe Cultivation

So how many of these Fab 40 Kalanchoes can YOU grow?  Given that kalanchoes are frost-tender and finicky (though so gorgeous you gotta have them), good news: I've successfully grown nearly half of them. I'm NE of San Diego at 1,500 feet, Zone 9b. I get frost in winter and triple-digit heat in summer. Humidity is low.

Kalanchoe 'Pink Butterflies' (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Kalanchoe 'Pink Butterflies'

To be honest, some varieties---like 'Pink Butterflies'---don't last no matter what I do. (If you've managed to keep 'Pink Butterflies' going year after year, we need to talk.)

Kalanchoe rotundifolia (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Kalanchoe rotundifolia, a rarity

Those I almost never see in Southern CA gardens (but should be able to grow here), I've defined as Rarities---a category that also includes "heartbreakers."

Find out more in my the video, my books and this site's newly updated Kalanchoe page. I welcome your comments and questions! 

Related Info on This site

Succulent Kalanchoe mother of thousands (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

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