Search Utilities Plant Database Search by Plant Name Advanced Search Search by size, origins, color, cultural needs, etc. Website Search Search for any word Site Map Retail Locator Plant Listings PLANT TYPE PLANT GEOGRAPHY PLANT INDEX ALL PLANT LIST PLANT IMAGE INDEX PLANT INTROS SPECIALTY CROPS NEW  2020 PLANTS PRIME LIST   for NOVEMBER  Weather Station

Products > Kalanchoe beharensis var. subnuda   Kalanchoe beharensis var. subnuda - Naked Feltleaf Note: This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.   [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Succulent Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrops) Origin: Madagascar Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: Green Yellow Bloomtime: Winter Synonyms: [K. beharensis var. nuda, Hort., K.'Slick'] Height: 10-16 feet Width: 6-12 feet Exposure: Sun or Shade Summer Dry: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 30-32° F May be Poisonous  (More Info): Yes Kalanchoe beharensis var. subnuda (Naked Feltleaf) - This is the unusual glabrous (hairless) form of the more common Velvet Elephant Ear, also known as Feltleaf. Like the typical species this is a relatively slow growing succulent tree-like shrub that can reach the eventual height of 12 ft. with an equal spread though is typically seen much smaller. It has large, undulating, light olive-green, slightly-triangular leaves and instead of having the soft, often brownish, hairs covering the leaves, this variety has leaves with a smooth, almost plastic-like surface. Once mature, it produces small, greenish yellow flowers in winter or spring. Plant in full sun or light shade. It is frost tender and needs protection much below 30° F and is drought tolerant. An interesting sculptural succulent for the succulent garden or in a large pot. The species was originally discovered near Behara in Madagascar but is now recognized as widespread in southern Madagascar and Werner Rauh reported this hairless variety, described as variety subnuda by Hermann Jacobsen, as naturally occurring from dry forests near Onilahy along the southwestern coastline. According to our friend John Bleck, in an article titled "Kalanchoe" in the March-April 1973 issue of the Cactus and Succulent Society Journal it was reportedly first introduced into cultivation from the collections of Pierre Fischer and Dick Felger. For more information on the species and a listing of other Kalanchoe cultivars of the species that we grow see Kalanchoe beharensis.  The information on this page is based on research conducted about this plant in the San Marcos Growers library, from online sources, and from observations made of the crops growing in our nursery, plants in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens where we may have observed it. We also have incorporated comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from those who may have additional information, particularly if this information includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Kalanchoe beharensis var. subnuda.     [MORE INFO]