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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrops) |
| Origin: Madagascar |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Green Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Winter |
| Synonyms: [Bryophyllum proliferum, B. calycinum] |
| Height: 4-8 feet |
| Width: Spreading |
| 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 prolifera (Blooming Boxes) - A fast growing and interesting succulent plant with 6+ feet tall typically unbranched stems holding foot long pinnately compound succulent green leaves in opposite pairs that have reddish purple colored petioles and leaf margins when grown in bright light. As the leaves drop the stem has interesting leaf scar bands along the thick stem, which as the plant matures after several years, is topped with 3 foot tall panicle of greenish orange flowers in late winter - the green calyces of the flower are box shaped and nearly hide the pale orange petals. The plant declines after flowering but many new plantlets form in the inflorescence and the main plant will often sucker up with a new stem so a colony is easy to establish. Plant in full coastal to part sun or light shade in a well-drained soil. Irrigate occasionally to very little. Hardy to around 25 °F. The interesting shape of the succulent leaves and the tall thick stems makes for a very unusual looking plant in the garden or in a container, small or large, making this unusual plant great for the other worldly alien garden look and, as the name, implies it reproduces prolifically! Tall stems are often blown over by wind to root out and re-establish, which also helps the plant spread, though it is not as invasive as other plantlet forming species of the Kalanchoe/Bryophyllum group. In its native habitat it is common on rocky ground in the Antananarivo region of central Madagascar from 3,300 to 6,500 feet in elevation. The name for the genus is somewhat of a mystery - there is some thought that it comes from a phonetic transcription of the Chinese words 'Kalan Chauhuy' meaning "that which falls and grows", likely in reference to the plantlets that drop from many of the species but others believe it from the ancient Indian words 'kalanka' meaning "spot" or "rust" and 'chaya' meaning "glossy" in reference to the reddish glossy leaves of the Indian species K. laciniata. The name for the synonym, Bryophyllum, comes from the Greek words 'bryon' meaning "sprout" and 'phyllon' meaning "leaf" in reference to the manner of which the new plantlets develop. The current genus name depends on the whim of the most current taxonomists, either lumped in with Kalanchoe or splitted out as Bryophyllum - currently the the Tropicos database of the Vascular Plants of Madagascar has it as a species of Kalanchoe, while the Plant List (Collaboration between Kew and MOBOT) has this plant a species of Bryophyllum. It is also commonly called Jack in the Beanstalk for its rapid growth.
This information about Kalanchoe prolifera 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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