Scientific Name
Kalanchoe luciae Raym.-Hamet
Common Names
Paddle Plant, Paddle Kalanchoe, Red Pancakes, Flapjack, Desert Cabbage
Synonyms
Kalanchoe albiflora, Kalanchoe aleuroides
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sedoideae
Tribe: Kalanchoeae
Genus: Kalanchoe
Description
Kalanchoe luciae is a succulent plant up 2 feet (60 cm) tall. The leaves are in rosettes, big, thick, flat rounded, up to 6 inches (15 cm) long and 4 inches (10 cm) wide, grey-green to yellowish-green in color with red margins. The leaves in some cases will completely turn a vibrant red, especially with cool winter temperatures. Each stem bears clusters of pale yellow tubular flowers.
Kalanchoe luciae - Paddle Plant Red Pancakes
Photo via plantswap.net
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
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 Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal, Transvaal) and Swaziland.
Subspecies, Varieties, Forms, Cultivars and Hybrids
Kalanchoe luciae ‘Fantastic’
