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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrops) |
| Origin: Madagascar |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Red/Purple Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: Green |
| Bloomtime: Winter/Spring |
| Synonyms: [Bryophyllum beauverdii] |
| Height: 4-8 feet |
| Width: Spreading |
| Exposure: Cool Sun/Light 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 beauverdii (Beauverd's Widow's-thrill) - A climber with branching gray wiry stems that clamber and twine and hold narrow 1 to 2 inch long lance-shaped dark purple-black succulent leaves that are held in widely spaced opposite pairs alternating 90 degrees from the last pair. The dark purple-tinged gray-green flowers hang downwards in terminal clusters in winter and spring. As with many of the Malagasy kalanchoes, this plant drops plantlets about freely but generally only into other pots and these are relatively easy to pull out. Plant in full coastal sun or shade. It generally likes it warm with dry winters, though it seems to thrive outdoors in our Santa Barbara garden and persisted through the 2007 winter with several nights around 25° F - would likely prefer it warmer. This is an extremely interesting plant and while one would not call it beautiful, it is so unusual that it is sure to attract attention. Kalanchoe beauverdii is native to south and southwestern Madagascar where it inhabits dry shrublands forests distributed from sea level up to 2,750 feet in elevation. This plant was first described by the French botanist Raymond Hamet (1890–1972) in 1907. Hamet's name is often hyphenated and this is thought to be a deliberate choice on his part later in life. One common synonym is Bryophyllum beauverdii but this plant is also known as Kalanchoe jueli, Bryophyllum scandens, Kalanchoe scandens, Bryophyllum costantinii, Bryophyllum jueli, and Kalanchoe costantinii. The specific epithet honors the Swiss botanist Beauverd Gustave (1867-1942). Another common name is Sotre-Sotry though we really don't know what this means or what a "widow's thrill" is.
This information about Kalanchoe beauverdii 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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