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Kalanchoe beharensis (Velvet elephant ear) - This is a slow growing succulent tree-like shrub can grow to an eventual height of 12 ft. with an equal spread, though is typically seen smaller. It has thick stems that are covered sharp angled leaf scars that likely evolved to protect the stems that hold large, undulated and folded, olive-green, slightly triangular leaves covered in short brown stellate (branched) hairs that gives the leaves a soft, velvety texture. Once mature, it produces small, greenish yellow flowers in winter.
Plant in full sun or light shade. It is drought tolerant, needing little to only occasion irrigation, but is frost tender and needs protection much below 30° F. A great sculptural succulent for the succulent garden or in a large pot.
Kalanchoe beharensis was originally discovered near Behara in Madagascar but is now recognized as widespread in southern Madagascar. The name Kalanchoe as described by the French botanist Michel Adanson in 1763 was an adaption of a name for a plant in the genus in a Chinese dialect, most likely a dialect of Hokkien, spoken by overseas Chinese in the Philippines in the late 1600s. The name came to Adason's attention through Georg Joseph Kamel (Camellus or Cameli), a Czechian botanist and Jesuit missionary in the Philippines. Kamel referred to this plant as "kalanchauhuy" in his writings with 'ka-lan' being a Buddhist term for the physical grounds, gardens, or groves of a temple combined with 'huy' meaning a "flower". The name for the genus Camellia also honors Kamel. Though it seems that the correct pronunciation of the genus would be kal-an-KOH-ee, there are some who pronounce it "kal-an-choe" with some claiming the former is the American pronunciation and the latter the British, while others point to the Chinese origin of the word and suggest it might be pronounced "ka-lan-choi". The specific epithet "beharensis" is in reference to the occurrence of this plant at Behara, Madagascar.
We have grown this plant since 1998 and have grown several other cultivars or hybrids of this plant, including the very interesting glabrous form, Kalanchoe beharensis var. subnuda, the curious dark leafed dwarf form 'Brown Dwarf', the hybrid called 'Fang', a hybrid between Kalanchoe beharensis and Kalanchoe tomentosa and the hybrid Kalanchoe 'Oak Leaf', which is a hybrid between Kalanchoe beharensis and Kalanchoe millotii.
The information displayed on this page about Kalanchoe beharensis is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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