Three Furry-Leafed Kalanchoes

Winter is very much succulent season, with many of the plants looking their bright and colourful best during the cooler weather. Most kalanchoe types are grown for their attractive flowers, which usually appear during the short day lengths of winter, but some are cultivated specifically for their interesting or unusual foliage. Here are examples of three such kalanchoes, which all originate from Madagascar. They are easy to grow and thrive in many gardens around South Africa, especially in the drier areas.

Kalanchoe beharensis

(felt bush or donkey’s ears)

This kalanchoe grows into a large shrub or small tree with stout branches that can reach in excess of 5m tall over a period of time, although garden specimens seldom reach these large proportions as they are usually pruned or cut back to keep them neat and tidy. Leaves are thick and large, triangular or oak-leaf shaped with wavy margins. The upper surface is covered in a thick layer of grey felt-like hairs. Green to yellow urn-shaped flowers with purple centres are produced in erect panicles high above the foliage. Felt bushes are unusual succulents that really make a profound statement in the garden.