The genus Kalanchoe, from the family Crassulaceae, comprises around 170-180 species, according to recent taxonomic revisions.
It is native to Africa, Madagascar, the Arabian peninsula and some regions of Asia, with its greatest center of diversity in Madagascar, where more than 75 native species grow. Its fleshy leaves store water and many species exhibit summer dormancy in the Northern Hemisphere, adapting to the drought of their habitat. Its flowers, generally tubular or bell-shaped, are arranged in very showy inflorescences. Some species produce small plantlets on the edges of the leaves, an extraordinary form of vegetative reproduction. Its cultivation is usually easy: plenty of light, balanced soil, and moderate watering, avoiding waterlogging and intense cold.
