Get Garden Plant Profile for Little Garden Succulent
This months plant profile spotlights KALANCHOE pumila a most useful little garden succulent from the interesting plant kingdom of Madagascar. Described by some as being insignificant and unassuming, it is without a doubt one of the most versatile plants for setting off or highlighting other plants in the garden.
Seldom exceeding 25 cm in height, the low-growing ground cover spreads to a diameter of some 40 to 50 cm. The fleshy leaves are serrated along the margin of their front half and smooth, narrow and tapered towards the base.
The unusual mid-green to purple colouring is accentuated by a white, chalk-like covering, creating a dusty, grey effect on the mature foliage.
New growth tips are distinctly white. During winter and early spring the charming little plants produce clusters of small, mauve-pink flowers held above the foliage. This creates an extremely pleasing colour combination of muted, harmonizing shades seldom seen in the garden.
The pale foliage and complementary flowers
The pale foliage and complementary flowers serve to contrast strongly with many other plants in the garden, hence the importance of using this plant to show off or highlight others. Being of the succulent family, KALANCHOE pumila withstands dry conditions, thrives in full sun and requires very little attention. In return it offers year round good looks, a neat and tidy appearance and a flush of flowers in the often barren winter months.
Garden uses
Garden uses are numerous and varied; from pots and other outdoor containers like window boxes and hanging baskets to rock gardens, succulent gardens and dish gardens to formal edging in knot gardens.
In fact this highly desirable and most useful plant can be used almost anywhere to cover bare patches in full sun positions. The most unfortunate problem is that they are not cold resistant, enduring only extremely light frosts. Plants propagate readily and easily by tip cuttings, planted directly into the ground where new ground covers are required, adding further to the value of this wonderful, yet often overlooked little gem.
By Gerald Schofield
Published with permission of Chris Wilkinson Graemark