Kalanchoe tomentosa

Kalanchoe tomentosa, commonly known as the panda plant, is a very beautiful succulent plant forming a clump of elongated, thick, blue-green foliage, covered with a silvery-white velvet and marginated with brown-orange tips that darken with age. This perennial succulent native to Madagascar forms a small upright bush that withstands drought well and is easily cultivated in a pot that can be stored in a bright and cool room during winter, in regions with frosts. High luminosity and well-draining, not too rich, rocky to sandy substrate guarantee compact growth and an even thicker down with more intense colour contrasts.

Kalanchoe tomentosa belongs to the vast Crassulaceae family. It is a succulent perennial native to central Madagascar where it grows on the granitic soils of the Ambositra region. It withstands drought well but does not survive below -2°C (28.4°F). In its natural habitat, its upright and bushy bush can reach a height of 1m (3ft). Here, it will be more compact and should be cultivated in a pot outside mild climate regions, in full sun or partial shade in well-draining, mineral-rich soil mixed with a little sand. It should not be too dry during the growing season. However, avoid the scorching afternoon sun, especially in hot regions.

Kalanchoe tomentosa is a bushy perennial plant with succulent stems and leaves, covered with a thick, silvery white down with brown-orange margins. It is nicknamed the "panda plant" because of its bushy appearance and elongated spoon-shaped foliage. It forms a small clump that is 40cm (16in) tall and 20cm (8in) wide. It forms one or more vertical stems measuring 0.5 to 1cm (0.4in) in diameter, bearing grey-blue-green leaves that are 2 to 10cm (1 to 4in) long and 1 to 2cm (1in) wide. They are elliptical, elongated, opposite, and spirally arranged. They are covered with a thick layer of silvery-white hairs that become denser in hot and dry climates. The foliage sometimes has a slightly crenate margin and a pointed tip, which are enhanced by its edge with brown-orange hairs that turn dark brown when mature. This plant flowers in spring, but rarely in indoor cultivation. A symbol of wealth and prosperity in Madagascar, its flowering is unique with loose and upright panicles of small upright bell-shaped reddish-purple flowers, 1 to 2cm (1in) long and 1cm (0.4in) in diameter. They have rolled-up petal edges revealing a bright yellow-green throat.

In warm and dry regions, Kalanchoe tomentosa will find its place in a dry and sunny rockery or on a wild bank. Elsewhere, it can be planted in a pot that should be stored when the first frosts arrive. Stop watering until the vegetation resumes in spring. It can be planted with other succulent plants such as sedums, purslanes, and echeverias to create miniature dry gardens, or it can be placed in a large pot on a veranda or window sill.