Striped Kalanchoe

Striped Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe humilis) is grown for its leaves, not its flowers. It makes a compact succulent about 30cm tall and 45cm wide, with fleshy grey green paddles marked by irregular purple bands that deepen the more sun it gets. It thrives on neglect, which makes it a sound choice for a hot balcony or a bright windowsill you forget to water.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage that does the work. The purple striping is present all year, so it never has an off season waiting for flowers.
• Built for heat and drought. It holds water in its leaves and comes through a hot dry summer on a balcony that would finish most potted plants.
• Small enough for anywhere. At 30cm by 45cm it fits a windowsill, a rockery pocket or the front row of a mixed succulent bowl.
• Easy to multiply. A fallen leaf or a snapped stem roots readily in dry mix, so one plant becomes a row of pots.

Where it works best

Pots, balconies and courtyards. Use a shallow pot with a drainage hole and free draining mix. It suits a west facing balcony where reflected heat builds through the afternoon.

Indoors. Give it the brightest window in the house. In dim light the stems stretch and the purple banding fades, so this is a bright position plant rather than a dark corner one.

Rockeries. In frost free gardens it settles between rocks and gravel where the drainage is sharp and the soil is poor.

Growing Striped Kalanchoe in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to bright partial shade. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and arid gardens outdoors. It is frost tender, so in Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart or any frosting inland district keep it in a pot that comes under cover or indoors before winter.

Soil. A cactus and succulent mix, or standard potting mix opened up with coarse sand or perlite. Poor soil is fine. Wet soil is what kills it.

Water and feed. Soak it, then let the mix dry right through before the next drink: roughly every two to three weeks in warm weather and monthly in winter. Half strength liquid fertiliser twice over spring and summer is plenty.

Pruning. Pinch the tips to keep it bushy and remove the flower spike once the small maroon flowers finish, since it is dull and takes energy the foliage could use.

What to expect when it arrives

It is supplied as 140mm plants in packs of ten, which suits a mass planting, a run of pots or a shared order rather than a single specimen. Each plant will be young but well rooted, usually a single rosette that branches within a season.

Succulents travel better than almost anything else, though a leaf or two may drop in transit and that is not a fault. Leave the plants dry for a week after they arrive before the first water. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our guide to choosing the right size pot.
• Browse the wider succulent range.
• See other plants for balconies.
• Compare options in indoor plants.

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Kalanchoe is toxic to cats and dogs, and chewed leaves can cause vomiting and, rarely, heart problems. Keep it on a shelf or a high sill if your pet nibbles foliage.

Why have the purple stripes faded?

Not enough light. The banding intensifies with sun and washes out in shade, so move it to a brighter spot and the new leaves will come through marked again.

How often should I water it?

Every two to three weeks in the warm months, monthly in winter, and only once the mix is dry right through. Soft translucent leaves mean too much water, not too little.