Kalanchoe ‘Bronze Sculpture’

Kalanchoe 'Bronze Sculpture' (Kalanchoe sp.) is a shrubby Madagascan succulent grown for foliage rather than flowers. It builds to about 60cm tall and 50cm across, with thick felted leaves in bronze and copper tones that deepen the more sun they get. If you want a pot plant that looks composed all year and forgives a fortnight of neglect, this is a sound pick.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage colour that lasts all year. The bronze leaves hold their tone through every season, so there is never an off month waiting for flowers.
• It handles heat and drought. Thick leaves store their own water, which is why it stays presentable through a run of 40 degree days.
• Poor soil is no obstacle. It grows in thin, sandy ground where richer feeding would only make it soft and leggy.
• Yellow flowers as a bonus. Clusters of small yellow blooms lift above the foliage on mature plants without dominating it.

Where it works best

Pots and balconies. A 300mm to 400mm pot of cactus and succulent mix suits it, and the felted leaves reward being placed where you pass close by.

Rockeries and dry beds. Set it among stone and gravel with other succulents, allowing for its 50cm spread so the outer leaves stay in the light.

Borders and edging. In hot, dry gardens it makes a low structural edge that needs no watering once away.

Growing Kalanchoe Bronze Sculpture in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to very bright light brings out the strongest bronze colouring; in shade the leaves turn plain green and the plant stretches. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and arid gardens. It is frost tender, so frost prone gardens need it potted and moved under cover, or kept somewhere bright indoors over winter.

Soil. Sharp drainage is the one requirement. Use a cactus and succulent mix in pots, or open heavy soil with coarse sand and gravel and plant on a raised mound. Wet feet in winter kills these plants, not cold alone.

Water and feed. Soak, then let the mix dry right through before watering again: every two to three weeks in warm weather, monthly or less in winter. A half strength liquid feed twice over spring and summer is plenty.

Pruning. Cut back leggy stems in early spring to keep the shape compact, and remove spent flower stems at the base. Wear gloves, since the sap irritates skin.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold as tube stock and as a 140mm pack of ten. Tube stock plants are small, usually a few leaves, and take two seasons to reach potting size. The 140mm plants are further along and can go straight into a decorative pot or a rockery.

Succulents travel better than almost anything we send, because the leaves carry their own moisture and there is nothing to wilt. Leave yours dry for a week after it arrives, then start watering. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, with our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Low maintenance plants for full sun
• Browse the succulent range
• Succulents for hot and dry climates
• Plants for rockeries and gravel gardens

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. All kalanchoes contain cardiac glycosides and are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, causing vomiting and, in larger doses, heart rhythm problems. Keep it out of reach of pets and call a vet if any is eaten.

Why has the bronze colour faded to green?

Not enough light. Move it somewhere brighter and the colour returns with the next flush of leaves, though the existing ones stay as they are.

Can I grow it outdoors in a cold garden?

Not in the ground. It is frost tender, so in frost prone areas grow it in a pot that can shift to a verandah or a bright window over winter.