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Kalanchoe beharensis 'Small Form' (Small Velvet Elephant Ear) - A smaller leaf form of the otherwise slow growing succulent tree-like shrub with large, undulating, olive-green, slightly-triangular leaves which have a soft, velvety texture. It may grow to an eventual height of 12 ft. once mature but likely will remain much smaller. It has white flowers that open from pink buds in mid spring.
Likely this is a hybrid as unlike the full size plant that produces small, greenish yellow flowers in winter this plant has white flowers that open from pink buds in mid spring. Plant in full sun or light shade where it is a bit greener but better protected from frost as it likely is fairly tender but we experienced no damage to plants grown outside with temperatures down to around 30°F. A drought tolerant plant that requires little to no irrigation.
Kalanchoe beharensis 'Small Form' came to us from Green Meadow Growers, one of our unrooted cutting suppliers as Kalanchoe beharensis but it had decidedly smaller leaves but still bigger than the plant we grow as 'Oak Leaf' and also with some brown velvety hairs that 'Oak Leaf' also lacks. Like 'Oak Leaf' we think it likely that this plant is a hybrid as unlike the full size Kalanchoe beharensis that produces small, greenish yellow flowers in winter this plant has white flowers that open from pink buds in mid spring.
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 "beharensis" is in reference to the occurrence of this plant at Behara, Madagascar. For more information on the species and a listing of other Kalanchoe cultivars of the species that we grow see Kalanchoe beharensis.
The information about Kalanchoe beharensis 'Small Form' 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. |
