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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrops) |
| Origin: Madagascar |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Peach |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Parentage: (Kalanchoe beharensis x K. millotii) |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 3-4 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
| May be Poisonous (More Info): Yes |
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Kalanchoe 'Oak Leaf' (Dwarf Velvet Plant) - A densely-branched shrub to 2 to 3 feet tall with fuzzy, gray, lobed and upwardly-cupped 3 to 4 inch long succulent leaves that have broadly dentate margins. In midsummer appear the branching stems with small flesh-colored flowers in tight cymes at the branch tips just above the foliage. This plant is similar to the Velvet Elephant Ear (Kalanchoe beharensis) but is a smaller and denser plant with much smaller leaves that are not nearly as rigid. Plant in full sun to light shade (much whiter gray with brighter light) and irrigate little to occasionally. Hardiness is not well known but we did not have any damage on a small plant left outside in our January 2007 cold spell, when we had several nights down to 25 F. This plant is an older hybrid attributed to Ed Hummel and is thought to be the result of crossing Kalanchoe beharensis with K. millotii. We first noted this plant on the coastal bluffs in Malibu on a private property that "Grassman" John Greenlee had planted with many succulents, coral trees, New Zealand flax and grasses. This Kalanchoe was growing right on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with little or no supplemental irrigation and looked great. Our thanks go to John Greenlee for sharing pieces of this durable gem and for John Trager at the Huntington Botanic Garden in his help identifying it.
This information about Kalanchoe 'Oak Leaf' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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