Scientific Name
Kalanchoe luciae ‘Fantastic’
Common Names
Variegated Paddle Plant
Synonyms
Kalanchoe ‘Fantastic’
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sedoideae
Tribe: Kalanchoeae
Genus: Kalanchoe
Description
Kalanchoe luciae ‘Fantastic’ is exciting succulent with collage of foliage colors. Like Kalanchoe luciae, the species it is derived from, this plant grows up to 2 feet (60 cm) tall and wide with thick clam-shell-like up to 6 inches (15 cm) long and up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) wide rounded leaves that emerge from the basal rosette. The leaves are like the species with a gray-green color and red highlights but add to this splashes of cream to white variegation and you have ‘Fantastic’. It should produces flowers rising on a single long stem, up to 3 feet (90 cm), bearing clusters of pale yellow tubular flowers from late winter into early spring.
Kalanchoe luciae 'Fantastic'
Photo via sunshinetropical.com
How to Grow and Care
Kalanchoes are not particularly hard to grow, and the flowering varieties are highly rewarding for their colorful and long-lasting flowers. They prefer bright, sunny locations, especially in the summer growing season. During the winter, consider a south-facing window. Water moderately throughout the summer and reduce watering in the winter. Let the soil surface dry out between waterings, and in the winter, the plant can almost dry out. Watch the fleshy leaves for signs of water distress. They prefer warmth. Do not let fall below 55ºF (12.7ºC). An ordinary potting soil mix is fine. Feed bi-weekly in the summer with a liquid fertilizer, or use slow-release pellets.
Many kinds of Kalanchoe will produce tiny plantlets along the leaf margins that can be individually potted up… – See more at: How to Grow and Care for Kalanchoe.
Origin
Native to South Africa.
