Mother of Thousands
Kalanchoe daigremontiana
NEMBA: Category 1b
English: Mother of Thousands, Devil's Backbone, Mexican Hat Plant
Misapplied or old scientific names: Bryophyllum daigremontianum
Kalanchoe daigremontiana, also known as Mother of Thousands, is a succulent from Madagascar that's become a bit of a prolific problem in some parts of the world, including South Africa. It's got these cool, fleshy leaves with tiny plantlets growing along the edges! While it looks interesting, those plantlets can easily spread and take over.
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Origins: Native to Madagascar.
Overall appearance: An erect, succulent perennial herb.
Height: Typically grows to 30-60 cm, sometimes taller.
Width: Can spread 30-50 cm wide.
Leaves: The leaves are simple, fleshy, and 5-15 cm long. They are lance-shaped to triangular, a greyish-green colour, and often have purple or brownish markings. The leaf margins are distinctively toothed, and it's in these notches that the tiny plantlets (also called bulbils or adventitious embryos) develop.
Thorns or spines: Absent.
Flowers: The flowers are small, 1-2 cm long, and usually pink or purplish, sometimes orange. They are borne in branched clusters (panicles) at the top of the stem.
Flowering season: Flowers primarily in late winter and spring (often July to October in South Africa).
Fruits: The fruit is a small, dry capsule that splits open to release the seeds.
Seeds: The seeds are tiny and numerous.
Soil type: Prefers well-drained soil, such as sandy or rocky soils. It tolerates dry conditions.
Aspect: Prefers full sun to partial shade.
Edibility: No parts are considered edible.
Toxicity: Kalanchoe species contain cardiac glycosides, which can be toxic if ingested. It's best to avoid consuming any part of this plant.
Uses: Grown as an ornamental plant, particularly for its unusual method of propagation.
What birds it attracts: Not a significant attractant for birds.
What insects it attracts: Bees and other pollinators may visit the flowers.
What mammals it attracts: Not a significant attractant for mammals, and it's important to keep livestock away from the plant due to its potential toxicity.
Provinces it is a problem in: Widespread in various provinces of South Africa.
Fun Facts about Kalanchoe daigremontiana (Mother of Thousands):
It has tiny plantlets growing along the edges of its leaves.
These plantlets can drop off and grow into new plants very easily.
It's native to Madagascar.
It's considered an invasive species in South Africa.
Friendly alternatives:
Thicket Baboon Cabbage
Othonna triplinervia
Stanger’s cycad
Stangeria eriopus
Giant Stapelia
Stapelia gigantea
Dwarf Spekboom
Portulacaria pygmaea
Jade Plant
Crassula ovata
Plakkie
Cotyledon orbiculata
Sickle-leaf Red Crassula
Crassula perfoliata var minor
Plant type:
Herbaceous, succulent or perennial
Plant family:
Crassulaceae (little thick (the leaves)) - Order: Saxifragales