Scientific Name

Kalanchoe thyrsiflora Harv.

Common Name(s)

Bird’s Brandy, Desert Cabbage, Flapjacks, Ice Sculpture, Paddle Plant, White Lady Kalanchoe, Yellow Flapjacks

Synonym(s)

Kalanchoe alternans

Scientific Classification

Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sedoideae
Tribe: Kalanchoeae
Genus: Kalanchoe

Description

Kalanchoe thyrsiflora is a lovely succulent, often confused with Kalanchoe luciae. It forms a basal rosette of fleshy rounded grayish-green leaves with margins often tinged red and covered with a white powdery bloom. The inflorescence is erect, up to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall, with densely clustered thyrse-like panicles. The fragrant flowers are cylindrical, brilliant yellow, and appear from mid-summer to mid-winter.

This species is slightly rarer than its counterpart K. luciae which turns a vibrant red when stressed and has larger leaves. The plants commonly distributed under the name K. thyrsiflora are, in fact, usually the related K. luciae.