Kalanchoe beharensis on 8-25-12, #116-33.
Velvet Elephant Ear, Maltese Cross, Etc.
Kalanchoe beharensis
kal-un-KOH-ee be-HAIR-en-sis
MISLABELED BY THE INDUSTRY AS
Kalanchoe beharensis minima
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT
Synonyms 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 correct and 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.
The genus, Kalanchoe Adans., is the correct and accepted scientific name for this. It was named and described as such 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 accepted 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.
THERE ARE SEVERAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING.
Kalanchoe beharensis close-up on 8-25-12, #116-32.
I bought this AWESOME plant from Lowe’s in Greenville, Mississippi on 8-24-12 while living at the mansion in Leland. I had been plant shopping with a couple of friends the night before and found this plant. The price tag was a whopping $20.00! I carried it around in the store for more than an hour while pushing around the other plants I picked out in the cart. I was really debating paying that much for this plant. GEEZ! I had never paid that much before. Then as we were getting really to leave, my friends encouraged me to go ahead and buy the plant. So, I brought it home.
Although the plant was labeled Kalanchoe beharensis minima, there is no such accepted scientific name. I am not sure where Altman Plants came up with the name “minima”. There are several other websites that offer this plant with minima as a cultivar name. I also read that it is possibly a “dwarf” for of Kalanchoe beharensis.
Kalanchoe beharensis on 11-23-12, #131-29.
Kalanchoe beharensis has these AWESOME, large velvety leaves that always reminded me of mohair seats. May you don’t remember mohair seats but many old cars had them. These leaves also reminded me of the seats in the old theater. Isn’t it strange how something triggers your memory?
Kalanchoe beharensis new growth on 11-23-12, #131-30.
My new Kalanchoe friend and I got along really well and it had this growth spurt.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
Family: Crassulaceae.
Origin: Madagascar.
Zones: 11a-12b.
Size: 3-5 feet in a pot, up to 12 feet outside.
Light: Sun to part shade.
Soil: Good quality fast-draining potting soil amended with pumice (50/50) or additional perlite and chicken grit (2-1-1).
Water: Regular watering during the growing period, minimal in the winter.
Flowers: Usually anytime from April through August
Propagation: Very easily propagated by leaf and stem cuttings.
There are many potting soil recipes online but used 2 parts Miracle Grow Potting Soil with an additional 1 part perlite and 1 part chicken grit for several years. I switched to using a 50/50mix of potting soil and pumice in 2018. You just have to experiment… With any peat-based mix, the potting soil can get hard over the winter months when you stop watering as often. You can re-pot your cactus and succulents in the fall with a fresh, loose potting mixture so it won’t be hard over the winter months while your plants are inside. Kalanchoe won’t need any water during the winter unless you notice their leaves start to shrivel or wrinkle then you can give them a little.
Kalanchoe beharensis on 2-17-13, #139-45.
Kalanchoe beharensis is a slow-growing succulent shrub native to southwestern Madagascar. They can get fairly large, reaching around 9’ or even to 12’ tall in the right conditions. As it gets taller, the lower leaves fall off leaving scars where the petiole was attached.
You can actually break a leaf, even leaving it hanging, and new plantlets will grow from it.
<<<<2013 IN MISSOURI>>>>
Kalanchoe beharensis from a leaf cutting on 4-16-14, #143-9.
I sold the mansion to a group that turned it into a nice bed and breakfast. Dad asked me to move back to the family farm in mid-Missouri so I did. I had to give up several hundred plants. I kept most of my cacti and succulents, Colocasia, Alocasia and several other plants. Unfortunately, for some reason, I thought I should leave my bigger plants, including the Kalanchoe beharensis with a friend. I did take a leaf cutting which grew into several plantlets.
Hmmm… Supposed to be Kalanchoe beharensis but they turned out to be the cultivar ‘Fang’. Photo taken on 12-7-13, #208-39.
I kept the little Kalanchoe beharensis in this pot on the kitchen windowsill all summer with a few other succulents I didn’t want to put outside. I watched them grow and then I noticed something weird. I had taken cuttings of the Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Fang’ during the summer but they were outside. Somehow, these guys turned out to have the tubercles on the underside of the leaves, too. I know 100% I took a leaf from the Kalanchoe beharensis and NOT ‘Fang’ when I moved from Mississippi. I know I didn’t take cuttings from ‘Fang’ until the summer of 2013 because I brought the plant with me. So, tell me, how did these plants turn out to have fangs? What a mystery!
I gave up most of my succulents later in the summer of 2014 now I am starting over. Hopefully, someday I will find another Kalanchoe beharensis to bring home.
<<<<2021>>>>
Kalanchoe beharensis when it arrived on 4-23-21, #795-1.
I was happy when a reader of this site offered to send me a cutting from her Kalanchoe beharensis. I had written a post about the Kalanchoe and mentioned I wanted another one of these plants. I was really surprised when the box came and it not only had a leaf but an entire plant. That was a good thing, because the leaf didn’t make it…
Kalanchoe beharensis (Velvet Elephant Ear) on 6-24-21, #803-11.
By June 24 the plant was still alive and well. Kalanchoe beharensis are such neat plants.
Kalanchoe beharensis (Velvet Elephant Ear) on 7-20-21, #816-1.
Still looking GREAT on July 20. It has grown a little and measured 4″ tall.
Kalanchoe beharensis (Velvet Elephant Ear) at 5 1/2″ tall on 8-17-21, #826-31.
I was taking photos and measurements for a post on August 17 so I had to take another photo of the Kalanchoe beharensis. I usually take measurements of the potted plants when I move them inside for the winter in October… This plant grew another 1 1/2″ in about a month. It survived the winter, then didn’t make it over the summer of 2022. GEEZ!!!
There are a couple of varieties and cultivars mentioned on the LLIFLE (Encyclopedia of Living Forms) website including ‘Roseleaf’ which is a hybrid of Kalanchoe beharensis and Kalanchoe tomentosa. It is thought that ‘Fang’ could be a sport of ‘Roseleaf’.
San Marcos Growers list several Kalanchoe including both the Kalanchoe beharensis and a Kalanchoe beharensis ‘Small Form’. However, the leaves of the ‘Small Form’ do not look like my plant. They say it is likely a hybrid.
I watched this good video on YouTube by Bill B. on the PlantzNThings channel. There are other videos about the Kalanchoe beharensis.
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The Belmont Rooster 
I brought the plant last month but few leaves started falling, as we know less watering required for saculants so weekly watering wish top soil of container getting wet only…don’t understand how much and at frequency watering should be done.
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Hello there. It should be watered thoroughly once the soil has completely dried out during the growing season, maybe once a week. During the winter, pretty much stop watering. During the winter, pay attention to its leaves. When they appear somewhat wrinkly or shriveled, then give them water. Pour water in and when you see water coming from the bottom, stop. Let it drain completely. Do that ONLY if the leaves show the plant needs water. If you have to, during the winter put the plant somewhere you won’t bee seeing it every day and be tempted to water it.:) I hope this helps and I wish you great success with your plant. They are AWESOME and I need to find another one.
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I have several Maltese Cross, a Fang and a 10 foot Velvet Elephant Ear Beharensis. I could sent you a leaf if you are still looking for the Maltese Cross. Love these plants. I am trying to get a subnuda leaf right now to ad to my family.
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Hello Sandy! They are all great plants for sure! A 10 foot specimen is AWESOME! One of the local greenhouse I trade plants with has several of the ‘Fang’ but I haven’t brought any home “yet”. Unfortunately, I haven’t found any of the “regular” Kalanchoe beharensis. Maltese Cross was one of its common names, but it is actually a common name for Lychnis chalcedonica as well. To this day I am wondering why I left my Kalanchoe beharensis behind when I moved back to Missouri. GEEZ! Of course you can send a leaf! Need you ask? 🙂 I am not familiar with the Kalanchoe beharensis var. subnuda. That would be weird to have one that is hairless… I will send an email… Take care and thanks for the comment!
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I have a Kalanchoe that does not look like most of the pictures I see. The tag said minima but the plant does not look like any of your pictures.
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Hello Laura! That is very interesting. I wonder what it is? Maybe the plant doesn’t have the right label… You can send a photo to me at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com and let me take a look. Take care and thanks for the comment.
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