broad scalloped fleshy leaves with little light green/white buds

by David
(Chicago, IL. USA)

I purchased this little guy at the market. when i got home i realized it was without an identification label... i would like to know what kind of plant i have so i can properly care for it. i'm not even sure it is a succulent, but it has nice thick fleshy leaves.

it has scalloped thick leaves around the base of the plant, and little light green buds that seem to turn a pale green/ white color as they open. it is about 6 inches tall.

thank you!
DRH

Drought Smart Plants reply: These are indeed a succulent plant - they are known botanically as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, or Flaming Katy - not really a good name for this one with the white flowers, but they also come in bright pink, orange, yellow and red as well.

They have been highly hybridized by plant breeders as they naturally bloom in the winter after they get a warm summer with some cooler nights as fall arrives. This triggers the flower buds to form, which then open starting in November, making them an ideal Christmas plant.

You can see more about these interesting plants here: Kalanchoe species; scroll down through the visitor submissions at the bottom of the page for some interesting and useful information and more views of similar plants.

For general succulent care look here; these plants are very forgiving, and should bloom continuously for a few months, if you cut off the fading blooms, fertilize lightly, and give bright light.

Happy Succulent Growing!
Jacki

Some say Christmas Cactus, but I'm not convinced...

by Jesse
(South Carolina)

Large, waxy leaves near base of stalk. No sharp points on the leaves, instead are rounded. Stalk stems into smaller stalks holding reddish-pink flowers/buds.

Can anyone identify this?

long, thick green stem,with small pink flowers

by Lew-Ann
(Ogunquit, Maine)

I have had this plant for 10 years and don't know what it is. This year it bloomed for the first time.

Need to find out if I should take it out or leave it in.


Drought Smart Plants reply:

Well, I know if it was me, and I had the room, I would leave this plant right where it's at - it's gorgeous! This is Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, one of the best of all Kalanchoe species, and as you've found, they are a little finicky in their requirements to set the buds to bloom.

In most cases, they need to have a summer outdoors, with periodic watering, and then once the night temperatures cool down a bit, the buds will be in place for it to bloom, usually from November to March, just when we need it the most.

They come in many shades of pink, red and scarlet as well as white, all very pretty.

Have fun with your plant!
Jacki

See also the page on succulent care.

Wanting to learn more about Succulent Plant Propagation?

buy the Succulent Plant Propagation E-Book

Green leaves with scalloped pink edges & small pink flowers

by Valerie
(South Jersey)

I'd love to know what this plant is. We got it in a flower basket and it's so hardy and keeps growing and growing.

It has green leaves with scalloped pink edges.
It gets clumps of small pink, 4 petaled, flowers.

I have put in in a larger pot several times and it now looks so overgrown I guess I'll have to do it again.

I really love the plant and would like to know what it is so I can better care for it.

Thanks!


Drought Smart Plants reply: This lovely character is Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, or Flaming Katy.

You can see more on the bottom of this page: Kalanchoe species.

Many others before you have asked about this plant, which is rightfully popular due to the bright flowers, and the ease with which it can grow from cuttings.

Best of luck with Flaming Katy!
Jacki

Wanting to learn more about Succulent Plant Propagation?

buy the Succulent Plant Propagation E-Book

green oval leaves and small pink flowers

by Lew-Ann
(Ogunquit)

long elephant like trunk. Green oval leaves. Tiny pink flowers

Drought Smart Plants reply:
Hi Lew-Ann, this is one of the most requested plant identifications I get - the Kalanchoe species is wide and varied, but the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is particularly attractive in bloom. These are commonly grown as houseplants, and you'll often see them in greenhouses and garden centers, and even in supermarkets.

When they get tall and leggy, you can cut them into pieces and get lots of new plants, for giving to friends, or to put into planters on the deck for the summer. In the cooler nights of approaching fall, they will set buds, which then start to bloom in the later fall and through the winter.

They come in all shades of pink, red and orange, even yellow and white, so you can collect the whole range for bright colourful blooms through out the winter.

See more here: Kalanchoe species: scroll through the visitor contributions at the bottom of the page.

Happy Succulent Growing!
Jacki

Wanting to learn more about Succulent Plant Propagation?

buy the Succulent Plant Propagation E-Book

dark green plant

by lucas herndon
(las cruces nm usa)

Not sure if mine is a succulent but it acts like one.

Dark green leaves that are waxy and variegated.

When I bought it at the florist it had small pink/ fuchsia flowers but has never bloomed since in the last 4 years.

The flowers were in clusters.

It recently started growing taller after a re-pot and started putting out roots on its own from a lower branch.


Drought Smart Plants reply:
Hi Lucas, you've got a Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, otherwise known as Flaming Katie, named after the brightly coloured blooms.

Have a look on the page about Kalanchoe species (where I've moved your submission to) and scroll through some of the other submissions.

There are some useful hints and tips on how to get it to rebloom, by giving it a rest outdoors for the summer.

Other than that, these plants are easy to grow and care for, and very forgiving. I like the bright blooms, which usually happen in the middle of winter, when we most need some cheering up!

Good luck with your succulent plant!
Jacki

Dark green rubbery leaves and very small yellow flowers

It has dark rubbery leaves, a long stem and the leaves kind of look like a ladder going up and at the very top of the stem has tiny yellow flowers.

I had got a cutting from my grandmother she has been growing it indoors and it looks great; I've had the cutting for three days and the leaves are turning a green/gray color and the leaves fall off very easy.

I would love to know what kind of plant it is so the little guy will do better. My grandmother has had it so long that she dosn't know the name or where she might have got it from. Much Thanks Kindra

Drought Smart Plants reply: Hi Kindra, this is one of the many Kalanchoe blossfeldiana hybrids, well known by their other name of Flaming Katy, for the bright flowers in all kinds of bright colors.

To care for these iron tough plants, be cruel. You are most likely overwatering it; stop right now, or it will rot for sure. These are hardy and drought tolerant plants, and don't like or appreciate your tender loving care, or too much water. They also require bright light once established, so indoors they need to be in a south window, not in a dim area.

You can see more here: Kalanchoe species and see more about succulent care here.

Happy Succulent Growing!
Jacki

Long stemmed with frilly edged leaves

(Oregon)

Hi!

This website is amazing!!!

My friend was going to throw away this plant, so I took it home. I think it is some kind of succulent, because the leaves and stem feel like they are filled with water. It might not be a succulent though ... not sure. It's leaves are kind of frilly on the edges. The fully grown leaves are small, (about the size of a penny). The plant itself is about four inches tall. I hope you can help me identify it! Thank you so much for this invaluable service to the plant world!!! :)

P.S. Sorry about the watermarks on the photos - I used a demo program to convert them into a smaller size.


Drought Smart Plants reply:

No worries about the watermarks - at least you sent pictures - it makes my job of performing this service much easier! Thank you for your nice comments.

I'm pretty certain that this plant is one of these Kalanchoe species, most likely Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, otherwise known as 'Flaming Katy' and other similar names, due to the bright long lasting flowers in the winter.

It looks as though someone probably enjoyed it while it bloomed, but then didn't know what on earth to do with the poor thing once the stems got longer and bare.

Luckily, you're in the right place!

Kalanchoe are one of the easiest plants to propagate, so this will be a great way to get more (and much nicer) young plants to display and give away to other succulent plant afficianos.

Happy Succulent Growing!
Jacki


You can see how to do it here: Succulent Plant Propagation and if you need even more detailed information, you can buy the Succulent Plant Propagation E-Book

Four Petal Flowers

My dad got some plants in the nursery but not sure what they are. We think they are succulents. The flowers are orange, red, or yellow.