Kalanchoe orgyalis (Copper Spoons, Cinnamon Bear, Leather Plant, Shoe Leather Kalanchoe)


Botanical Information

FamilyCrassulaceae
GenusKalanchoe
Speciesorgyalis
SynonymsKalanchoe antanosiana, Kalanchoe cantonasyana
CategoryPerennials, Tropicals
OriginNative to southern and south-western Madagascar.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone9b - 11b
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness ZoneRequires cold season protection under glass.
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH3 - H1c
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)?3.9 - 10
Temperature (°F)25 - 50
GrowthMedium
Flowering PeriodFebruary, March

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionA slow-growing, much-branched plant, up to 1.8 m tall.
LandscapeRock gardens, borders, potted indoor and patio plant, containers or as a specimen.
PropagationBy seed or offsets in spring as well as leaf and stem cuttings.
CultivationGrow in a sheltered location in partial sun to light shade areas and well-drained soil containing loam and sand. In more temperate climates, grow under glass with good ventilation. Add perlite and sand to the loam-based potting mix. Strong southern light can burn the tips of the leaves.
PestsMealybugs and vine weevil.
Notable SpecimensQueen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.
HabitatIt grows among shrubs on rocky outcrops and dry soils.
Bark/Stem DescriptionErect, branched and vigorous. Young shoots are long haired.
Leaf DescriptionStalked, oblong spatulate-ovate, elliptic or lanceolate, that fold upward from the middle, pointed at apex and narrowed at the base, 5-15 cm long and 3.5-10 cm wide, green, bronze or rusty brown, with a grey-green or silver colour on the underside. The upper side of the leaves is covered with a characteristic, felt-like, pubescence formed by minute star-shaped, cinnamon coloured, hairs that eventually age to the same colour as the lower surface. Petiole 5-15 mm long. Margin entire.
Flower DescriptionBright yellow, erect or spreading in terminal clusters at the branch tips. Pedicel 5-15 mm long. Corolla urn-shaped, four-edged, very fleshy, yellow, glabrous or long haired. Segments, spreading ovate-triangular, with a thin pointed tip, 2.5-5 mm long and 3-6 mm wide. Tube almost circular to egg-shaped, fleshy, tapered and slightly constricted above, 3-5 mm long and 1-3 mm wide. Stamens attached above the middle of the tube and not protruding above the corolla. Anthers ovate and 1.5-2 mm long. Nectar-glands trapezoidal to semicircular about 1.5 mm long. Carpel 6-10 mm long, stylus 2-2.5 mm long.

Photographs