Kalanchoe beharensis Drake

Common name(s): Felt Bush, Elephants Ear Kalanchoe, Feltbush, Velvet Elephant Ear, Velvet Leaf Kalanchoe, Napoleon's Hat

Family: Crassulaceae

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington

Bark

Taken by Ken Harrington

Bark (Upper)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Leaves

Taken by Ken Harrington

Leaves

Taken by Ken Harrington

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Cacti, Succulents, & Allies Properties

Origin(s)

Madagascar

Madagascar: Indigenous

Plant Type

Deciduous Succulent, Evergreen

Deciduous Succulent,

Evergreen

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

Arid-Semi / Steppe, Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical Wet & Dry / Savanna

Arid-Semi / Steppe,

Temperate Warm,

Mediterranean,

Tropical Wet & Dry / Savanna

Aspect Range(s)

Sun - Full, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light

Sun - Full,

Shade - Dappled,

Shade - Light

Habitat Range(s)

Desert Vegetation

Habitat Zone(s)

Dry, Dry Valley Slopes, Exposed, Exposed Stony embankments, Garden, Hill Sides, Landscape, Open areas, Rock crevices, Waste Land / Disturbed Sites, Well drained

Dry,

Dry Valley Slopes,

Exposed,

Exposed Stony embankments,

Garden,

Hill Sides,

Landscape,

Open areas,

Rock crevices,

Waste Land / Disturbed Sites,

Well drained

Mature Height

1.5-2m, 2-2.5m, 2.5-3m

1.5-2m,

2-2.5m,

2.5-3m

Mature Width

250-300mm, 1-1.5m, 1.5-2m

250-300mm,

1-1.5m,

1.5-2m

Plant Shape

Bun - Narrow Open

Growth Rate

Slow, Moderate

Slow,

Moderate

Life Span

30-50yrs

Leaf Properties

Leaf Colour (front)

Dull, Glossy, Olive-green, Rust

Dull,

Glossy,

Olive-green,

Rust

Leaf Colour (back)

Dull, Olive-green, Silver

Dull,

Olive-green,

Silver

Leaf Shape(s)

Deltoid

Incurved

Deltoid,

Incurved

Leaf Texture (front)

Glabrous

Velutinous

Glabrous,

Velutinous

Fleshy

Leaf Texture (back)

Glabrous

Fleshy

Leaf Length(s)

80-90mm, 90-100mm

80-90mm,

90-100mm

Leaf Width(s)

50-60mm, 60-70mm, 70-80mm, 80-90mm, 90-100mm

50-60mm,

60-70mm,

70-80mm,

80-90mm,

90-100mm

Leaf Margin(s)

Crenulate

Repand

Undulate

Crenulate,

Repand,

Undulate

Leaf Arrangement

Opposite & Decussate

Leaf Cross Section(s)

Channelled

Concave

Channelled,

Concave

Apice(s)

Acute Broadly

Base(s)

Auriculate

Hastate

Peltate

Auriculate,

Hastate,

Peltate

Leaf Aroma

None

Leaf Attachment

Petiolate

Trunk / Stem Properties

Trunk / Stem Upper Colour(s)

White , White-grey

White,

White-grey

Trunk / Stem Base Colour(s)

Brown Light

Diameter / Thickness

30-40mm, 40-50mm, 50-60mm, 60-70mm, 70-80mm, 80-90mm, 100-125mm

30-40mm,

40-50mm,

50-60mm,

60-70mm,

70-80mm,

80-90mm,

100-125mm

Trunk / Stem Cross Section

Terete

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Bisexual

Flowering Time (start)

Spring

Flowering Time (end)

Summer

Colour(s)

Yellow, Yellow-green, Red-orange

Yellow,

Yellow-green,

Red-orange

Aroma(s)

None

Flower Shape(s)

Urceolate

Flower Size(s) Width

5-7.5mm

Arrangement(s)

Corymb Compound

Axillary , Terminal

Axillary,

Terminal

Arrangement Size(s)

500-600mm

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Bees,

Birds,

Butterflies

Petal Number

Root Properties

Type

Fibrous

Tap

Fibrous,

Tap

Texture

Fibrous , Pliable , Stringy

Fibrous,

Pliable,

Stringy

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Stony

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Sand,

Stony

pH Range(s)

Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline

Acid,

Slightly Acid,

Neutral,

Slightly Alkaline

Condition(s)

Moist

Moist-Dry

Moist,

Moist-Dry

Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained

Poor,

Shallow,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

W0 – Low tolerance

Watering Requirements

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering, WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering,

WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Poor

Bird Attraction

Insect, Nectar

Insect,

Nectar

Butterfly Attraction

Poor

Frog Habitat

None

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Regeneration(s)

Regrowth, Seed

Regrowth,

Seed

Fire Retarding

Moderate

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

Snow Tolerance

None

Smog Tolerant

Moderate

Landscape Use

Moderate

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Heading, Periodic Pruning

Dead Heading,

Periodic Pruning

Pests/Diseases

Mealy Bug, Scale, Slugs, Snails

Mealy Bug,

Scale,

Slugs,

Snails

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Border Plant, Garden-Container, Fire Resistant, Fire Retarding, Foliage-interesting, Garden-Cacti, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Cottage, Garden-Desert, Garden-Indoors, Garden-Informal, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Rock, Garden-Xeriscape, Groundcover, Playground Friendly, Shady Dry, Shady Moist, Specimen, Sunny Dry, Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Garden-Border Plant,

Garden-Container,

Fire Resistant,

Fire Retarding,

Foliage-interesting,

Garden-Cacti,

Garden-Coastal,

Garden-Cottage,

Garden-Desert,

Garden-Indoors,

Garden-Informal,

Garden-Mediterranean,

Garden-Rock,

Garden-Xeriscape,

Groundcover,

Playground Friendly,

Shady Dry,

Shady Moist,

Specimen,

Sunny Dry,

Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Dormancy

Summer

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

Propagation

Fresh Seed, Leaf Cuttings

Weed Potential(s)

Kenya

Kenya: Naturalised

Tanzania, United Republic of

Tanzania: Naturalised

Uganda

Uganda: Naturalised

Zambia

Zambia: Naturalised

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: Naturalised

General Notes

The largest of the Kalanchoe's, a tree-like shrub and interesting succulent for the garden with striking, crenulated, silvery-grey, velvety leaves. As a specimen plant it can be quite eye catching.

Some cultivars have been produced K. beharensis 'Brown Dwarf' a slow growing dwarf form with golden-bronze or white glabrous to pubescent leaves K. beharensis 'Fang' a slow growing dwarf form, leaves have teeth on the back

Propagation Notes

Expand all

Leaf Cuttings

Flowering

Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan

Cutting

Nov, Dec, Jan

Material Preparation

Select mature leaves and carefully pull down and sideways to pull them off the stem. Cut across the base of the leaf to tidy up the torn material or if its just fallen off, leave it alone. Set aside for 1 - 2 days to callous over and dry the wound area.

Propagating Mix

2 parts washed Propagating Sand + 1 part Perlite

Treatment

Fill the seedling tray with mix and firm down. Water tray of mix thoroughly wet with Previcur fungicide mix. Using a dibber, press leaf gently into tray of mix until it will stand firm, allow space between the leaves for the plantlets to form and grow. Place in a cold house with temperature between 20-30° C. Spray fortnightly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect light.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock 90 %

Nursery Stock 99%

Plantlet Time:- Field Stock 8 - 16 weeks

Nursery Stock 8 - 16 weeks

100mm Pot Mix:- Premium Cacti Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 2 parts coarse washed Sand

Premium Potting Soil

Hardwood Stem Cuttings

Flowering

Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan

Cutting

Nov, Dec, Jan

Material Preparation

Firm wood, tip or stem cuttings. Cutting approximately 50 - 500mm long. Ensure cut clean across the bottom, remove lower leaves, flowers, seed pods. Place to one side and allow the wounds to callous and dry for 2 - 7 days.

Propagating Mix

Small cuttings - P2 tubes:- Premium Cacti Mix

2 parts washed Propagating Sand + 1 part Perlite

Large Stem Cuttings - Pots:- Premium Cacti Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coarse washed Sand

Treatment

Fill the P2 tubes with mix. Water tubes of mix thoroughly with Previcur fungicide. Easiroot hormone may be used but no rooting hormone is really required. Using a dibber press cutting gently into tube of mix, until the cutting stands firm. Place in cold house, keep moist. Maintain cold house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C.

Half fill the pot or tub with mix. Easiroot hormone may be used but no rooting hormone is really required. Place large cuttings in the pot or tub, fill in around the cutting and firm up mix until the cutting stands firm. Water pots or tubs thoroughly with Previcur fungicide. Place in cold house, keep moist. Maintain cold house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock 75-95 %

Nursery Stock 90-99 %

Rooting time:- Field Stock 2 - 4 weeks

Nursery Stock 2 - 4 weeks

Tube Mix:- Premium Cacti Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coarse washed Sand

Premium Potting Mix

Fresh Seed

Flowering

Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan

Seed Collecting

Jan, Feb, Mar

Sowing

Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan

Material Preparation

Collect the capsules as they are starting to dry out. Place in a paper bag to dry out thoroughly for 1 - 2 weeks. Rub the capsules between gloved hands to remove any seed that hasn't fallen out. Clean and store in a cool dark place.

Viability:-

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coarse washed Sand + 1 part Perlite

Treatment

Fill seedling tray and firm down. Surface sow seed, water in well with Previcur fungicide mix. Place in a hot house. Keep moist but not too wet. Maintain hot house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 25-34° C, with bright indirect sunlight.

Viable seeds/gram:-

Germination time:- 2 - 4 weeks

Pricking out:- 8 - 10 weeks after germination (2 - 3 leaf stage)

Tube Mix:- 1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coarse washed Sand