Quicksilver Kalanchoe

Quicksilver Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe pumila 'Quicksilver') is a compact succulent, about 30cm tall and 60cm wide, with small oval leaves in silvery white that pick up a wine-purple tint in the sun. Mature plants carry tiny lilac flowers in late winter. It loves heat, light and a free draining pot, and it earns its place on foliage alone.

Why you'll love it

• Silver foliage. The leaves are silvery white with a purple tint, and more sun deepens that tint to wine purple.
• Compact and spreading. It stays low at 30cm and spreads to about 60cm, so it fills a pot or a rockery pocket without climbing.
• Lilac flowers in late winter. Tiny lilac blossoms appear on mature plants when little else in a succulent garden is flowering.
• Made for containers. It is quite happy in pots, bowls and troughs, and its colour sets off terracotta and dark glazes.
• Likes it hot and sunny. A bright, warm position is exactly what it wants, and it asks for little water in return.

Where it works best

Pots, bowls and balconies. A wide, shallow container shows off the spreading silver mat. Give it the sunniest spot you have, because that is where the foliage colour is best.

Rockeries and gravel gardens. Plant 50cm apart in free draining or stony soil. Silver leaves are a good contrast to green succulents and dark paving.

Sunny borders. Use it at the front of a hot, dry bed. It is toxic to pets if eaten, so choose a spot they do not visit.

Growing Quicksilver Kalanchoe in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun brings out the most colour. It likes temperatures above 10C, which makes tropical and subtropical gardens its natural home. In cooler climates grow it in a pot and keep it under cover through winter.

Soil. Plant in free draining or even rocky soil, in a pot or in the garden. A cactus and succulent mix is a good base for containers.

Water and feed. Like most succulents it needs little water. Water weekly in the warmer months to keep it looking lush, and less when it is cool. Fertilise in spring with an organic liquid feed at half strength.

Pruning. No regular pruning is needed. Trim off finished flower stems and any untidy shoots to keep the mat compact.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Quicksilver Kalanchoe as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once planted, in 140mm pots in packs of 10 and in 200mm pots in packs of 6. Tubes are the economical way to fill a long rockery, and the larger pots give a more established mat from day one. Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the tube shows as sold out, the grower has none at present, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Explore the kalanchoe collection
• Succulents for hot climates
• Waterwise gardening tips and plant choices
• Rockery plants

Common questions

Why are my leaves green instead of silver?

Usually too little sun. Move the plant to the brightest position you have, and the silver and the purple tint will strengthen over the following weeks.

How cold can it get?

It likes temperatures over 10C, so treat it as a plant for warm gardens. Elsewhere, grow it in a pot and bring it indoors or under cover for the cooler months.

Is it safe for pets?

No. Kalanchoes are toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, so keep it on a high shelf or in a part of the garden they cannot reach.