If you decide to have a Kalanchoe on your windowsill, know that there are more than 200 species of it in the world. Agree, there is plenty to choose from. These representatives of the bastard family can be very different: tall giants under 4 m in height and very low dwarfs 15-20 cm each, some bloom with bright caps of flowers, others with plain, but cute, bells.
Moreover, all species that can be grown at home, in one way or another, have healing properties, but only two of them are considered to be truly medicinal - Kalanchoe Degremona and Kalanchoe pinnate.
Consider the existing types of Kalanchoe, their names and photos in order to understand how this home flower might look.
Kalanchoe Degremona (Kalanchoe daigremontianum)
This is a well-known "grandmother's" medicinal plant. In indoor conditions it reaches 50-70 cm. It looks like an upright bush with a clearly marked main stem. The leaves are in the form of elongated triangles, gray-green with jagged edges. Brood buds - "babies" - fully formed tiny plants with roots are formed in the serrations on the leaves. Falling into a pot of soil, they quickly take root, forming whole families of new young Kalanchoe.
Recently, Kalanchoe Degremona and other species with similar properties have been classified as belonging to the genus Bryophyllum for such an ability to live birth.
Rooting "babies" is the simplest way of reproduction of Kalanchoe daigremontianum, but not the only possible one. Stem cuttings, leaves and even seeds are also suitable for this purpose.
The plant is not considered decorative flowering, but it blooms nonetheless. And, quite nicely: pink bells, gathered in panicles, bloom on long peduncles.
Kalanchoe pinnata (Kalanchoe pinnata)
Another therapeutic bryophyllum, the easiest way to reproduce by "children". Reaches a height of 1.2 m. Stems are fleshy, dark green. Leaves are oval, light green with purple veins. Outwardly, they resemble feathers, hence the name of the species.
On the leaves there are serrations with a red edging, between which "children" are formed.
When blooming, the feathery Kalanchoe releases a high arrow with bunches of hanging green-pink bells.
Kalanchoe tubiflora (Kalanchoe tubiflora)
Also refers to bryophyllum, height - up to 1 m. Forms one central stem, around which are long leaves with curled inward edges. Due to this feature, the leaves of Kalanchoe tubiflora look like hollow narrow tubes raised up.
The leaves and stem are violet-green with a grayish bloom, purple-brown streaks are visible on the leaves.
Tubiflora blooms with red or orange panicles.
Kalanchoe Manginii or Manginii (Kalanchoe manginii)
Ampelous decorative flowering bryophyllum with thin drooping shoots and oval glossy leaves. It grows up to 30 cm in height and width. Ideal for growing in hanging baskets, balcony boxes, containers.
It blooms very effectively: orange-red bells, gathered in lush bunches, open on high arrows. Breeders, seeing the enormous potential of Blossfeld's Kalanchoe, enthusiastically began to develop its new varieties. This is how whole series of varieties, characterized by special properties, appeared.
The most famous variety series is the terry Kalanchoe Kalandiva. Unlike the blossfeldiana species, whose flowers have 4 petals, Calandiva has 32 of them! Therefore, they look like small roses in a bouquet.
Kalanchoe Rosalina is another exclusive range with double flowers. It differs from Calandiva in its more compact bush. Flowers are also double, densely filled with petals.
Kalanchoe Grandiva (Grandiva) - this series can be called an improved Kalandiva, with a larger size of flowers reaching 2 cm in diameter. It is worth noting that in our stores Blossfeld's Kalanchoe and its varieties are often sold with a strange postscript "Mix". And many people think that this is the name of the variety. However, it is not. "Mix" means mixed, mixture. In other words, a particular plant went on sale in a mixture of different varieties and colors.
Kalanchoe dissected (Kalanchoe laciniata)
Herbaceous succulent with erect stem and delicate fleshy leaves of light green color. It grows up to 1 m. How the dissected Kalanchoe looks is clear already from the popular name - "deer horns", which this plant received due to the shape of narrow leaf plates.
It blooms with small orange or yellow flowers.
Kalanchoe felt (Kalanchoe tomentosa)
This species is grown for the pubescent velvet leaves that resemble the ears of a plush rabbit. They are oval, elongated, gray-green in color with brown stitching along the edges. All other aerial parts of the plant - stems, corollas and calyxes of flowers - are also covered with the finest hairs.
The plant is compact, in a pot it grows up to 35-45 cm, and in nature - up to 1 m in height.
It blooms in panicles on long peduncles. If you look at the photo of a felt Kalanchoe flower, you can see that its petals are also covered with velvet "dusting". The corolla itself is very interesting - tubular, with red petals and a yellow-green throat.
Kalanchoe panicled flower (Kalanchoe thyrsiflora)
Herbaceous plant, up to 60 m in height. It is sometimes called desert cabbage for its similar rosette shape. It consists of round, obovate leaves of gray-green color, covered with a white powdery bloom. In the rosette, the leaves are stacked parallel to each other, like plates, with their edges pointing up. At high insolation, the sheet plates, starting from the edges, are painted in a striking red color.
When flowering, a high peduncle grows from the center of the outlet, reaching 1-1.3 m. On the dense inflorescence, small tubular greenish flowers with yellow petals are formed. The flowers have a pleasant aroma. Since this type of Kalanchoe is not very common in our country, its reproduction by seeds is most often used. Reproduction is also possible by leafy cuttings and daughter plants that form on the Kalanchoe after flowering.
Kalanchoe luciae
Succulent plant, reaching 60 cm in height. It is often confused with the paniculate Kalanchoe: they are very similar. Both species form a rosette of basal oval leaves covered with a white powdery layer.
At low temperatures, as well as in the sun, the leaves of Kalanchoe Lucia turn red. Sometimes the leaves turn completely burgundy red. In other cases, they remain uniformly green.
The most important difference between this species and thyrsiflora is the flowers. In paniculate-flowered Kalanchoe they are yellow and fragrant, in Lucia they are white and do not have a pronounced odor.
Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi
Small shrub succulent, up to 60 cm in height. Refers to bryophyllum.
Leaves are simple, fleshy, bluish-green, oval or obovate with fine wavy edges. Edges are usually colored pink or red. In drought conditions or in strong sunlight, the "blush" spreads further along the leaf plate.
Tubular-bell-shaped flowers - orange, coral, apricot - appear on tall peduncles growing from the center of the plant.
Kalanchoe pumila (Kalanchoe pumila)
A dwarf dwarf shrub, up to 30 cm high. The whole plant is densely covered with rounded gray-green leaves with a purple edging. Thanks to the small white hairs growing on their surface, they look matte, velvety.
In late winter or early spring, long peduncles appear on the succulent, which rise above the crown. Flowers are bright, pink-purple with well-visible yellow stamens.
Kalanchoe marble (Kalanchoe marmorata)
It is an erect or lodging succulent perennial reaching 40 cm in height and width. The leaves are obovate, blue-green or gray-blue with brownish-purple strokes. Their color becomes deeper when the plant is grown in a sunny location.
Erect inflorescences, collected in complex umbrellas, grow up to 10 cm in length. Flowers are long, tubular, white, with four petals. Sometimes they have a pinkish tint.
Kalanchoe grandiflora (Kalanchoe grandiflora)
Succulent shrub, height - up to 0.6-1 m. Leaves - serrated, green or light turquoise, covered with a white powdery coating. Leaves and young stems are often pink-purple in color.
In the spring Kalanchoe grandiflora blooms with fragrant bright yellow flowers.
Kalanchoe growing (Kalanchoe prolifera)
A rapidly developing bryophyllum, which in nature can reach 2 m in height. It features a complex, feathery green leaf shape. Their edges, as well as petioles, when grown in a well-lit place, acquire a reddish-purple color.
In the process of growth, the lower leaves fall off, leaving behind streaks-scars on the thick stem. Gradually, the stem lengthens due to fallen leaves.
Prolifera blooms with panicles. Flower petals are pale orange hidden in green cups.
Kalanchoe marnier (Kalanchoe marnieriana)
A succulent shrub growing up to 45 cm in height and 1.2 m in width - due to drooping and "spreading" shoots. Leaves are blue-green, flat, rounded, densely located on the stems. In good light, the leaves develop a purplish-red border, and in winter they can turn completely pink.
Kalanchoe marnieriana blooms in clusters of red-orange flowers in late winter and spring.
Kalanchoe Porphyrocalyx (Kalanchoe Porphyrocalyx)
A dwarf dwarf shrub or epiphyte, even in nature reaching only 30 cm in height. The small rosette consists of long rectangular leaves with rounded serrations. Refers to bryophyllum.
Flowers in the form of bright pink bells appear on long purple petioles in late winter.
Kalanchoe laxiflora (Kalanchoe laxiflora)
Succulent shrub, up to 50 cm in height. The leaves are serrated, elliptical, green or bluish-green in color, often with a red tint around the edges.
Peduncles are high, rise 30 cm above the crown of the plant. On their tops, clusters of orange, red or purple bell flowers hang freely.
Kalanchoe Gastonis-Bonnieri
Fast growing succulent bryophyllum, perennial or biennial, reaching 45 cm in height. However, the plant does not look small. Ovate-lanceolate leaves can be huge, up to 50 cm in length.
The leaves are gray-green, covered with a waxy white bloom. Small "babies" are formed along their burgundy-brown edge.
The peduncle begins to grow in the fall and can reach 90 cm. At its top, clusters of dark red inflorescences with light yellow edges of the petals are formed.
Kalanchoe Beharskoe (Kalanchoe beharensis)
Large succulent shrub with unique spear-shaped leaves, corrugated at the edges. Under favorable conditions, it can reach the height of a small tree - about 2-3 m.The leaves are also huge - up to 40 cm wide, up to 35 cm long.
Leaf color - from olive green to dark green. The surface is velvety, soft, thanks to the fine brown hairs on the surface.
Flowers - numerous, small, red-orange or yellow, gathered in panicles.
Kalanchoe synsepala
Attractive succulent plant, up to 50 cm in height. Forms dense rosettes of wide rounded leaves with a serrated edge. Their edges are pink-purple, although the leaves themselves are bright green.
Kalanchoe synsepala blooms in September, October and November. At this time, tubular flowers with colors ranging from white to pink appear on the plant.
Kalanchoe figuereidoi - "partridge" (Kalanchoe figuereidoi)
Small undersized succulent, up to 40-50 cm in height. Forms a dense rosette of very beautiful gray-green leaves with a pink-purple edge. The leaves have a peculiarity: their surface is decorated with brown-purple stripes, reminiscent of the plumage of a partridge.
Leaf color may vary during the season. It becomes more intense with high insolation, as well as with a decrease in temperature in winter.
Blooms usually in winter. Small pink flowers form on long peduncles.
Of course, those varieties of Kalanchoe, the photos and names of which were described in this article, are a drop in the ocean. There are many other species and can be found (and grown at home!) By reaching out to collectors.
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