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Kalanchoe beharensis
Also called Velvet Leaf, Felt Bush, Velvet Leaf Kalanchoe
Elephant's ear kalanchoe (Kalanchoe beharensis) is a felt-leaved succulent shrub from southern Madagascar, grown in pots or outdoors in frost-free climates. Key to success is bright light, sharp drainage, and letting the soil dry fully between waterings.
Kalanchoe beharensis (commonly known as elephant's ear kalanchoe, felt bush, or feltbush) is a plant species in the succulent genus Kalanchoe, and the family Crassulaceae. Kalanchoe beharensis is native to Madagascar known by local names mongy, rongy and tavitavy.
It may be grown as a houseplant in a bright, sunny windows with sufficient aeration to prevent the proliferation of insect pests. They may live outdoors in mostly frost-free landscapes. It is naturally toxic to humans and cats, and may irritate and itch expose skin; the species is (reportedly) not toxic to dogs, provided the plant has not been treated with any chemicals (according to the National Animal Poison Information network). This plant needs full to partial sun, with intermediate to warm temperatures above 5 °C (41 °F). It will survive random bouts of frost on a scale from light to moderate, preferring to avoid it altogether. For growth in a greenhouse, K. beharensis will grow in a mixture of equal parts loam and sand, and one part extra perlite, pumice or other inert material for aeration and drainage. The plant should be dry before watering again, as too much water will kill it. Watering should occur every 10–14 days during the growing season. In the winter months it should be watered sparingly, possibly only once every thirty days.
Madagascar widow's-thrill · Devil's backbone · Chandelier plant · Palm beachbells · Narrow Leaved Kalanchoë · Milky Widow's Thrill · Kalanchoe longiflora · Kalanchoe luciae · Kalanchoe manginii · Penwiper · Kalanchoe marnieriana · Copper Spoons
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Kalanchoe beharensis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.
