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KALANCHOE beharensis 'Oak Leaf'

Image of Kalanchoe beharensis 'Oak Leaf'

Jesse Saylor

Family

Crassulaceae

Botanical Name

KALANCHOE beharensis 'Oak Leaf'

Plant Common Name

Kalanchoe, Oak Leaf Kalanchoe

General Description

Native to Madagascar, felt plant offers year-round form and texture with its bold leaves and stark upright habit. The cultivar 'Oak Leaf' has large, shallow-lobed, long-stalked leaves which cluster at the tip of an erect unbranched or sparsely branched stem. The leathery, triangular to arrow-shaped, olive-green leaves are covered with silvery fuzz, and are often bronze-tinged above. They can reach the size of a human foot. Their cupped form and undulating edges add to the unique character of this plant. Mature plants may produce long-stalked clusters of small yellowish flowers at their stem tips in spring or early summer.

This cold-tender, heat-tolerant succulent thrives in shade in the desert and in sun in more moderate climates. Like most succulents it prefers porous, well-drained soil and infrequent watering. Kalanchoe beharensis was extensively used in association with contemporary architecture in Los Angeles in the 1960s, and is enjoying a resurgence as a landscape plant for modernistic houses. It also makes a spectacular container plant for sunny spacious rooms.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 1

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    10 - 15

  • Sunset Zone

    H1, H2, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Cactus or Succulent

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun

  • Height

    3'-10' / 0.9m - 3.0m

  • Width

    2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m

  • Bloom Time

    Spring, Summer

  • Native To

    Madagascar

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Neutral, Alkaline

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Loam, Sand

  • Tolerances

    Drought

  • Growth Rate

    Medium

  • Water Requirements

    Xeric/Desert, Drought Tolerant

  • Habit

    Narrow Upright/Fastigiate

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    Yellow, Ivory

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Olive, Gray Green, Bronze

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Olive, Gray Green, Bronze

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Olive, Gray Green, Bronze

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Olive, Gray Green, Bronze

  • Bark Color

    Brown, Gray

  • Fragrant Flowers

    No

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    No

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    Yes

  • Foliage Texture

    Coarse

  • Foliage Sheen

    Matte

  • Evergreen

    Yes

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Houseplant, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Self-Sowing

    No