The Flapjacks Plant

Upright clumps of leaves that almost look like some kind of undersea shell, or a stack of pancakes make this plant distinctive from any other Kalanchoe.

The leaves and especially the stems are usually coated with a white powder known as ‘bloom’ that protects them from excessively bright conditions, as well as moisture loss.

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Don’t worry if this waxy, powdery coating rubs off; it just means that you’re handling it too much.

Keep it out of the most intense sunlight for a week or two until it grows back as they can get sunburned without their sunscreen.

In time, the plant can form a large cluster of the rosettes, and eventually a tall flower stalk will emerge from the center of one or more of them.

The stalks can grow to a height of nearly two meters (six feet) and the yellow flowers are held in clusters atop the stalk.

After the flower finishes, this particular rosette will die; these plants are ‘monocarpic’ or once-flowering.

Other names this plant goes by are Desert Cabbage and Paddle Plant, both descriptive of its appearance.

These are extremely drought tolerant plants, and grow well in a large mixed container in cooler climates to be brought indoors for the winter.

Keep them dry; in fact, I’ve successfully overwintered them without any soil, as large cuttings.

They look sad by the time spring arrives, but once plugged into your larger container, will root and grow quickly.

Kalanchoe thyrsiflora ‘Tricolor’ is a variegated type, with pink, green and white markings.

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Other closely related plants are Kalanchoe luciae, which tends to have less bloom, and slightly different shaped foliage.

Some sources say Kalanchoe luciae ‘Fantastic’ is the same plant as K. thyrsiflora ‘Tricolor’, others think they are different species; they’re mixed up in the trade and go under both names.

It’s suspected that most plants going by Kalanchoe thyrsiflora are in fact Kalanchoe luciae, but due to the difference in appearance depending the growing conditions, it’s really hard to tell which is which.

Whichever one you get, they are spectacular, easy to grow plants sure to give a lot of impact to your summer planter display.

Find out more about Kalanchoe thyrsiflora below…

Click on each link to another story about Flapjacks…

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The survivor 
This is one of some supermarket succulents I got to put in some smaller flowerpots outside in hopes that they’d do better than non-succulents in the heat …

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Thick leaves  
Hello! Could you please provide me some information about this plant. Thank you!

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Short succulent now over 2 feet tall 
Pale leaves, base of plant has become nearly two inches in diameter. Very tough. The main stalk of this plant just keeps growing taller each day.

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white chalky stem, oval leaves 
I got this plant from my Dad. It has a white stem, and when touched leaves a chalky residue on my fingers. It grows in sections. It has broad, fairly …

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Variegated succulent with pink edges 
Seen in a garden in Texas. Can’t find anything like it when I search online. Hi Arlene, this is Kalanchoe thyrsiflora ‘Tricolor’ which can also go …

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Help ID my “paddle plant”?? and why is it drooping 
Hi, I have this really nice succulent. It has bluish, flat paddle-like leaves that have a white powder-like substance coating them. It’s been putting …

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What type of succulent is this? 
It came in a small pot, but it seems unhappy. I’m not sure what type of succulent it is, so I don’t know what type of pot or environment would make it …

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helo saw this plant in san diego
Short dwarflike plant rounded leaves w purple or red on the end This is one of the best plants for giving a strikingly bright colorful splash, and …

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Jade Tree, and what looks like new roots starting 
Not much of a green thumb but I’d like to know if this some variety of Jade Tree plant and whether it is sprouting a new set of roots. Got it at Walmart …

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a tall spire with sage green thick leaves that have a silvery dust and round ends not pointed. 
Trying to identify this for my aunt. It has huge thick stem that tipped out of the pot then shot up about 28 inches. Very thick and solid leaves in a soft …

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large green tongue shaped leaves 
Hi, great website! I just brought this home from the supermarket and looked through hundreds of pictures and cannot identify. I’m in Boston and have …

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Flat, oval leaves with fat stem 
I bought this cutie today at the Farmer’s Market and COMPLETELY forgot to ask what he was! I’d appreciate some help so I know how to take care of him properly! …

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Single stem Large round draping leaves? 
Large plant with Large round draping leaves Hi Carolyn, this is an odd looking thing, for sure – but it’s quite pretty. I’m wondering if it could …

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Large leaved succulent 
I picked it up from the grocery store. The tag only said, of course, succulent. It seems to have a sturdy main stalk. Quite wide leaves,almost a heart …


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Celery green with a waxy white bloom, jade-like but not crassula (I think) 
This was purchased about two years ago, at a big box store as an unnamed succulent. It has since produced the smaller offshoot. The leaves turn yellow …

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large rounded green leaves with pink/cream edge 
Large round green leaves with pink and cream edges. People have asked if it is some sort of cabbage. Maybe a flapjack or paddle plant? Drought Smart …

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Big fat leaves 
I’ve had this plant for at least a year now and it has grown some babies (???) at the end of it. Not long after I first got it the end flowered and it …

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Help me identify 
I received the plant from a friend who had no clue how to grow them. She was slowly killing all her plants and gave them to me to save them. When …

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Looking for ID and way to cut back 
It’s 3-4 years old, 28 inches high and 10 inches wide at the widest point. It has a single thick stem. I’m calling it a Kalanchoe or Paddle, though I don’t …

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Is this a Kalanchoe thyrsifolia? 
Large upright rosette-style plant, pale green leaves tinged with pink at the top. It has never flowered. It is now a little taller, the bottom leaves …

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Mystery 
Stem approx. 1 to 1 1/2 cm thick. “Leaves” are disc shaped like large half-dollars. Leaf color ranges from greyish-blue to pink.