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

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.