PlantFiles: Felt Plant, Felt Bush, Velvet Leaf Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe beharensis

I grow all of mine from leaves. Lay the leaf on top of the soil in shaded area and do not water. That's it. Leave it alone. Don't water it until the mother leaf is dried up and no longer feeding it.

My most beloved plant! Here in Melbourne, it happily survives gale strength winds, 40 plus heat, and blazing sun. Autumn rain brings on a huge flush of growth, and it is presently 2 metres tall- ( and very straight, no twistyness as mentioned in other notes) Morning sun shines through leaves, showing beautiful veining. Soft cinnamon-brown fuzz... Also setting to bloom for first time in 8 years now, in the autumn. Seems happy with cool wet winters (properly drained) and dry burning summers. I have propagated one by pulling a broken leaf off at base and laying on sandy mix, but it's taken all summer to end up with a pea sized set of leafs at base of stem. Also, found a tiny set of roots growing from the edge of a hole that formed where a leaf was severely sun-burnt, and I've potted it up. If you have a frost -free winter and awater-restricted summer, plant it, and fall in love !

Mine is a very impressive plant that stands out from other plants grown in a pot, a true speciman. About the fastest growing succulent I've come across, maybe grows a little too big for limited indoor space. I have to have it inside Dec. thru Feb. I'm battling mealybug, however. I've sprayed it with neem oil and used a systemic insect control on the roots. I have three or four other good starts, so I'm tempted to discard the parent plant which is about four feet tall.

Surprisngly hardy plant taking near freezing temps very well. Also handles our cool bay area wet winters also . I'm not sure why it isn't seen much if at all outdoors here. The newer selections seem to have decidedly brown leafs where the type has only a hint.
If you want a contrast to the usual shapes and forms of xeric plants-this has it.

We have had ours two years now and keep it in a pot. It is about 2.5 feet tall and produces new leaves about once a month. We water it lightly about once a week and keep it outside in the sun all but December thru February. This is one of the most unusual plants we have. I have noticed that in full sun the leaves do turn a more brown color and indoors it gets more of a gree.

Woody succulent shrub native to Madagascar. Nice specimen plant for zones 10b-11. Prefers full sun but can tolerate some shade. Soil should be dry to moist so you might want to consider allowing the soil to thoroughly dry between waterings as over watering can destroy the plant otherwise it can thrive on neglect. This plant is propagated by removing the small offsets from the base of the main plant as well as from stem cuttings.

Is this commonly known as a "Madagascan Felt Bush"?
I bought a mature bush (8') described such as this from a specialist nursery which imported the bush from Madagasca around 1970. I have only been able to propagate from felt leaves when they were ringed by tiny flowers about 1/2" in diameter and this happened only once prior to the bush dying. Attempts to grow from leaf stems or leaves since has been unsuccessful.
I have only four bushes existing in pots ( now about 15 years old )from the initial propagation when flowers bloomed on a few leaves.

This is a relatively fast growing Kalanchoe with large, fuzzy leaves that eventually grows into a small bonsai-like tree in So Cal. Its stems become twisted, gnarled and have an uneven texture created by the missing leaf bases as they fall off. The plant develops huge, folded, thick, fuzzy, irregularly shaped succulent leaves that vary from a dull green, to silvery or coppery. I think this is one of the more fascinating Kalanchoes and is a great specimen for a xeriscape garden.

The Velvet Leaf Kalanchoe will grow in most any condition. Full sun to full shade. Shade will keep it mostly gray/green, while full sun will bring out the cinnamon colored brown "velvet" that it is known for. Survives on little or no water or regular water from irrigation systems. Fallen leaves will root and produce new plants, complicated and sometimes convoluted inflorescence.

I have grown Kalanchoe beharensis outdoors for many years. I live in Sunset Zone 21, and the evening temperatures rarely fall below 8°C (48°F). My K. beharensis is now roughly 4.5 ft.

This genus need lots of room to grow, and very easy to replant from stem cuttings. I haven't tried to propagate from leaf cuttings, but sure it can be done. Important point, these succulents are native of tropical Africa, they cannot tolerate freezing tempertures. As for soil, I have mine in a very large clay pot, the soil mixture I use is "Miracle-Grow", mixed with pumice and several parts of cactus mix. They do need a porous/well draining soil. Misting is fine from time to time. If I learn anymore, will pass it along.