Kalanchoe beharensis

Kalanchoe beharensis

There are a few different forms of this "felt bush" which originates from the dry regions of south Madagascar. The largest form has huge wavy leaves which are rust coloured in the juvenile stage .In warm climates it can form a large sculptural shrub to over 3 metres but is less robust in cooler climates and only ever gets to 1.5 metres. The smaller leafed variety which is possible a hybrid with K tomentosa grows to about 90 cm. With age, both shed their lower leaves becoming open branching shrubs and producing strange bunches of dun coloured flowers carried in loose clusters. My particular favourite is the cultivar K. b. "Fang" which has rows of prominent teeth on the lower side of the leaves. Fortunately they are soft unlike those of the shark.

Propagation is fairly simple from either cut stem pieces or from leaves which if lain on a dry ground will shrivel and produce new plantlets around the edge.
2017 update:I normally have stock available, except the large leaf form which has proved tricky to establish.