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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 'Chocolate Soldier' (Chocolate Soldier Panda Plant) - An interesting and attractive small slow growing succulent subshrub that grows to about 2 feet tall with narrow slightly concave and elliptical succulent pale brownish green leaves that are covered in tiny hairs, giving the plant a velvety look and feel. Along the upper leaf margin and tip is a raised slightly toothed rim that is reddish on new leaves and matures to a rusty brown color, giving this plant a very unusual two toned appearance. 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 or small groundcover plant and very popular as a container specimen or even a houseplant. The 'Chocolate Soldier' cultivar is a leaf color variant of the species reportedly collected by Werner Rauh in habitat in Madagascar. It has narrower leaves and a more more uniform and thicker dark chocolate brown margins while the species (which is quite variable) typically has broader gray-green leaves and spots or lines of brown along the leaf margins. Other common names for the species include Pussy Ears and Panda Plant. 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.
The information about Kalanchoe tomentosa 'Chocolate Soldier' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include 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 we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
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