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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrops) |
| Origin: Madagascar |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Red/Purple Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: Green Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Height: 1-3 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
| May be Poisonous (More Info): Yes |
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Kalanchoe tomentosa (Panda Plant) Erect evergreen succulent to around 2 feet tall with 3 inch long soft fuzzy leaves with dark reddish brown toothed margins on upper half held in open rosettes at stem tips. In summer can appear, clustered atop 18 in stall stalks, the yellow green flowers with dark brown petal tips, but flowering is not that common. Plant in a well-draining soil in full sun to part shade (requires protection from full sun in inland desert areas) and water only occasionally to very little. Cold hardy to around 25 °F. A great smaller plant in the garden as an accent and very popular as a container specimen or even used indoors as a houseplant. Bernard Descoings in Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Crassualaceae notes that in Madagascar it is a popular belief that this plant flowering for someone is an indication of richness and prosperity for their household. The name Kalanchoe 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 specific epithet is in reference to the fuzzy hairs covering the leaves. It received the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit in 1993. We also grow that darker cultivar Kalanchoe tomentosa 'Chocolate Soldier'.
This information about Kalanchoe tomentosa 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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