Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ as I bought it on 8-25-12, #116-34.
Stalactite Plant
Kalanchoe beharensis cv. ‘Fang’
kal-un-KOH-ee be-HAIR-en-sis
Synonym of Kalanchoe beharensis (1)(Updated on 12-18-22 from Plants of the World Online): Kalanchoe vantieghemii Raym.-Hamet (1906)
Kalanchoe beharensis Drake is the accepted scientific name for this species of Kalanchoe. It was named and described by Emmanuel Drake del Castillo in Bulletin du Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris) in 1903.
Kalanchoe Adans. is the accepted scientific name for this genus of flowering plants in the Crassulaceae Family. The genus was named and described by Michel Adanson in Familles des Plantes in 1763.
As of 12-18-22 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online lists 165 species in the Kalanchoe genus. It is a member of the plant family Crassulaceae with 36 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.
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Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ on 8-25-12, #116-35.
I brought my Kalanchoe beharensis cv. ‘Fang’ on home August 25 in 2012 from Lowe’s in Greenville, Mississippi while living at the mansion in Leland. There were three plants in the pot. The plant was grown by Altman Plants and the label said:
Kalanchoe ‘Fang’ is an upright slow-growing succulent to 2 to 3 feet tall and has 3 to 4 inch long velvety leaves that are unlobed but have dentations along the entire margin. The leaves are a golden-brown color when grown in the sun or a silvery-gray in the shade and have dark brown spots along the leaf margin and hooked tubercles across the upper half of the backsides of the leaves. These fang-like tubercles, which give the cultivar its name are most noticeable up the upwardly inclined new leaves. Grow in sun or bright shade in well-drained soil or pot. Hardy to around 25°F.
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ on 11-22-12, #130-17.
According to information online, it seems the “true origin” of ‘Fang’ may be unknown. It is similar to an old Hummel hybrid called ‘Rose Leaf’ which was a cross between Kalanchoe beharensis x Kalanchoe tomentosa. “Rose Leaf’ didn’t have the fangs, though, so they say ‘Fang’ may be a sport. So how did this strange Kalanchoe come up with those tubercles, protuberances, fangs, or whatever you call them?
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ at 5 1/2″ tall x 8″ tall on 11-23-12, #131-27.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
Family: Crassulaceae
Origin: Ummm… Not sure. Possibly a hybrid.
Zones: USDA Zones 9b-11 (25 to 40° F)
Size: 2-3’ and even up to 6’
Light: Sun to part shade
Soil: Fast-draining, quality potting soil amended with pumice (50/50) or additional pumice and chicken grit (2-1-1).
Water: Average water needs during the growing period, not much during the winter. Always allow the soil to dry between watering.
Propagation: Easily roots with leaf cuttings
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ on 11-23-12, #131-28.
The leaves of this plant remind me of those old mohair seats in old cars and old theater seats. Remember those?
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ on 2-17-13, #139-44.
One of the plants in the pot grew much faster than the other two.
<<<<2013 NOW IN MISSOURI>>>>
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ on 4-9-13, #142-22.
I sold the mansion in Mississippi and moved back to the family farm in mid-Missouri in February 2013. Mom and dad had both been ill and dad asked me to move back to help with mom and the farm. Mom was 81 and dad was 82 at the time. I told him that I had a lot of plants and he just said, “Yeah”. He is very hard of hearing and I don’t think he quite understood that a lot of them had to come with me. I gave up several hundred pots but brought most of my succulents, several perennials, the Colocasia and most of the Alocasia, and several others I didn’t want to leave behind. The temperature was in the 30’s the whole 8-9 hour trip. Most of my plants were in the back of a trailer but some were in the vehicle. A good friend helped me move and there was a lot of snow on the ground when we arrived at the farm. We moved the plants to the basement because I had no idea what to do with them.
When spring finally arrived, I moved the plants outside. I had brought several tables I had built in Mississippi and put them next to one of dad’s sheds. It became the perfect spot for my potted plants.
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ on 6-1-13, #151-51.
The scarring is from what I am not sure. Could they be from water on the leaves in the sun? Maybe from insects? Maybe from getting too cold during the trip to Missouri in 30-degree temperatures?
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ underside of leaf on 7-14-13, #162-38.
That is just plain odd!
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ on 8-30-13, #181-39.
That one plant has always outgrown the other two and is branching out. Despite the appearance, this plant always did pretty well.
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ on 9-13-13, #187-14.
I took several leaf cuttings which easily take root. It was odd the leaves actually grew multiple plants. The other leaf cuttings in the photo were from an Echeveria.
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ babies on 12-7-13, #208-41.
As cooler weather came I had to move the plants back inside for the winter. There was a table in my bedroom so I put most of the succulents on it and on the kitchen windowsill.
<<<<2014>>>>
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ on 6-29-14, #230-66.
Finally back outside again! It is always a tragedy when some bug comes along and wants to snack on the succulents! Sometimes they take a few nibbles, but sometimes they take much more.
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ on 6-29-14, #230-67.
The baby ‘Fangs’ did very well over the winter. I don’t know how many there were. I had a bigger Kalanchoe beharensis that I swore I took a leaf cutting from. Somehow, and it really puzzled me, they turned out to be Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’, too!
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ on 7-12-14, #231-66.
Temperature and light have a lot to do with the color of the leaves.
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ on 7-12-14, #231-67.
All the leaf cuttings I took in 2013 did very well. The Bryophylum/Kalanchoe daigremontiana babies (Mother of Thousands) were also in several pots.
Unfortunately, I gave up most of my succulents shortly after the above photo was taken. I have started rebuilding my collection but I haven’t bought another Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ yet. Someday…
<<<<2021>>>>
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ after I brought it home on 4-3-21, #788-4.
Well, I decided to finally bring another Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ home on April 3 in 2021. There are always several at Wagler’s Greenhouse so it certainly isn’t like they are rare plants. It was always one of those “been there, done that” plants.
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ on 4-3-21, #788-5.
As with the “original” Kalanchoe beharensis (Velvet Elephant Ear), it has neat fuzzy leaves that remind me of the old mohair seats.
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ after I brought it home on 4-3-21, #788-6.
Of course, the creature feature is the underside of the leaves.
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ after I brought it home on 4-3-21, #788-7.
The stems are even fuzzy…
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ at 5 3/4″ tall on 7-20-21, #816-2.
I didn’t measure it when I brought it home, but it measured 5 3/4″ tall when the above photo was taken on July 20, 2021. They don’t really grow that fast compared to some plants.
Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ (Stalactite Plant) at 6″ tall on 8-17-21, #826-30.
I was taking photos for a post on October 17 (2021) and wound up taking measurements. The Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ grew another 1/4″ since July 21 to 6″. I normally take photos and measurements of the potted plants when I bring them inside for the winter in October…
<<<<2022>>>>
I brought the potted plants inside for the winter on October 16 in 2022 because a “you know what” was in the forecast. I didn’t measure the Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ but it is alive and well.
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