# Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe is a cheerful plant that blooms with clusters of colorful flowers! It’s easy to care for and perfect for brightening up your room.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Dry, tropical areas
- **Also known as:** Chandelier Plant, Life Plant, Mother of Thousands

![Kalanchoe](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Kalanchoe_pumila_3.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kalanchoe_pumila_3.jpg)

## Appearance

The Kalanchoe has thick, fleshy, often scalloped leaves that are typically dark green. It produces vibrant clusters of small, four-petaled flowers in shades of red, orange, pink, yellow, or white, creating a striking contrast with its robust foliage.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Saxifragales
- **Family:** Crassulaceae
- **Genus:** Kalanchoe

## Interesting facts

- Kalanchoe can bloom for several weeks, keeping its bright colors on display for a long time!
- Many are called 'Mother of Thousands' for tiny plants on their leaf edges!
- Some Kalanchoe can grow over 6 feet tall, towering like small trees!
- These plants are famous for vibrant, long-lasting flowers, making them popular gifts!

## Special abilities

- **Water Reserve:** Kalanchoe has thick, succulent leaves that store water, helping it survive long dry periods like a living canteen!
- **Leafy Life-Givers:** Some Kalanchoe species can sprout new plants directly from their leaves, a super skill for making more of itself!
- **Nighttime Breather:** Kalanchoe can open its pores at night to absorb carbon dioxide, helping it save precious water during hot days.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-60 cm
- **Spread:** 15-45 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Winter to Spring
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** common honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar from flowers
- **Pollinates:** [monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — visits flowers for nectar
- **Depends on:** cotton aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — sucks sap from leaves and stems

## Traits

- [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Everblooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/everblooming): Everblooming plants produce flowers continuously or in repeated flushes over a long period.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Succulent](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/succulent): Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Kalanchoe?

Compare leaf arrangement, rosette shape, ribs, spines and flowers. Keep in mind that drought and strong sun can shift a plant's color and shape. Succulent Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Kalanchoe?

10-60 cm

### How wide does Kalanchoe spread?

15-45 cm

### How big are the flowers on Kalanchoe?

0.5-2 cm

### When does Kalanchoe bloom?

Winter to Spring

### Is Kalanchoe edible?

No

### Is Kalanchoe toxic?

Mild

### What is Kalanchoe's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Kalanchoe: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kalanchoe)