Kalanchoe behariensis ‘Fang’ | Felt bush
€15,90
🌱 Morphology
Kalanchoe ‘Fang’ (Elephant Ear Kalanchoe). A very unique horticultural cultivar related to Kalanchoe beharensis, selected for its extraordinary foliage. It develops a shrubby habit, with succulent stems that become woody with age and branch mainly at the top.
The leaves are thick, fleshy, triangular to triangular-ovate, approximately 7–10 cm long in cultivated specimens, and are clustered towards the ends of the branches. The upper surface is covered by a dense pubescence that can take on silvery-gray, grayish-green, or golden-brown hues, especially when it receives plenty of light.
Its most spectacular feature appears on the underside of the leaves, where it develops numerous curved, conical protrusions, grouped mainly towards the upper half. These structures resemble fangs, which is where the name ‘Fang’ comes from. They are not true thorns, but rather formations of the leaf tissue itself.
Unlike the type species, where pubescence and leaf morphology are highly variable, in ‘Fang’ these protrusions are the ornamental trait that makes this selection easily recognizable.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Family Crassulaceae. ‘Fang’ is a horticultural cultivar, so it does not have its own natural distribution. It is considered a selection related to Kalanchoe beharensis, a species native to southern and southwestern Madagascar, where it grows in xerophytic forests and dry environments on various types of soil.
One should not attribute a specific wild locality to the cultivar or present ‘Fang’ as a natural population.
❄️ Temperature
USDA Zone 9b–11a
It can tolerate minimum temperatures of -2°C. It is a mostly warm-climate plant that tolerates cool temperatures if kept dry, but it should not be exposed to frost. For safe cultivation, it is recommended to protect it when temperatures approach 5–7 °C, especially if the substrate retains moisture.
During the cold period, it is advisable to keep it dry and well-ventilated. Adult and properly acclimated specimens can withstand occasional greater drops, but resistance depends heavily on humidity, duration of the cold, and the plant's physiological state.
☀️ Lighting
It needs plenty of light to maintain compact growth and develop the silvery, grayish, or golden tones of the pubescence.
Target DLI PAR: 15–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹.
It can be grown in full sun after gradual acclimation. In Madrid, during episodes of extreme heat and very high radiation, light protection during the middle hours of the day may be advisable, while always maintaining intense lighting and good ventilation. Light intensity also significantly influences the coloration of the leaf indumentum.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Summer dormancy. Its growth occurs mainly in moderate temperatures, while it may slow down during episodes of extreme heat. It also reduces its activity in low temperatures.
It is recommended to water thoroughly and allow the substrate to dry completely before watering again. During winter, especially when temperatures are low, watering should be spaced out considerably.
The combination of cold and damp substrate should be avoided, as it significantly increases the risk of root problems.
🌸 Flowering
Under proper conditions, it can produce a large, branched terminal inflorescence, although flowering is relatively infrequent in young or indoor-grown plants.
The flowers are small and numerous, with tubular or urceolate corollas, generally yellowish to yellow-orange with reddish streaks. Flowering can occur from spring to early summer, depending on growing conditions.
In Spain, an approximate window of April to June is reasonable for mature specimens grown in high light, although this should not be considered a fixed date.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, Desert CHOICE® Succulents is recommended, applied moderately and avoiding excess nitrogen that promotes overly soft tissue and excessively rapid growth.
Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering to promote the development of inflorescences in adult specimens.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technical square pot and with substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
📏 Gourmet xerophyte in a 16 cm pot
* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the sent specimen may vary slightly from the product image. The plant measurements are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly because, it is a living being! Each of the Desert CITY plants has unique characteristics.
📏 Xerophyte in pot of
13x13 cm
16x16 cm
18x18 cm
📐 Approximate height of the plant: 20 cm for size L and 40 cm for size XL
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