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
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
10 - 15
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Cactus or Succulent
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
3'-10' / 0.9m - 3.0m
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Width
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
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Bloom Time
Spring, Summer
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Native To
Madagascar
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Drought
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Xeric/Desert, Drought Tolerant
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Habit
Narrow Upright/Fastigiate
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Yellow, Ivory
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Olive, Gray Green, Bronze
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Olive, Gray Green, Bronze
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Olive, Gray Green, Bronze
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Olive, Gray Green, Bronze
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Bark Color
Brown, Gray
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Houseplant, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Self-Sowing
No