Kalanchoe daigremontiana Raym.-Hamet & H.Perrier
Mother of Thousands / Alligator Plant
Kalanchoe daigremontiana, commonly known as "mother of thousands" or "alligator plant," is a perennial succulent native to southwestern Madagascar (Fiherenana valley and Androhibolava mountains), famous for producing hundreds of viviparous plantlets along the toothed margins of its leaves. Historically classified as Bryophyllum daigremontianum, it is today one of the most studied botanical models for asexual reproduction and CAM photosynthesis.
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© Ianaré Sévi
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Overview
| Category | Classification |
|---|---|
| Family | Crassulaceae |
| Genus | Kalanchoe |
| Growth Habit | Erect, succulent, mostly single-stemmed herb, slightly branching at the top; perennial in warm climates. |
| Conservation Status | No IUCN threat category; considered an invasive species in many tropical and subtropical countries. |
| pH Target | 6.0 – 7.5 |
| Type | Sandy, sandy-loam, well-drained; tolerates stony and nutrient-poor soils. |
Origin & Habitat
Morphology
Triangular to lance-shaped leaves up to 20 cm long and 3.5 cm wide, dark green with purple mottling on the underside; their toothed margins produce adventitious buds (brood buds) that develop into complete plantlets before falling to the ground.
ecoSingle, erect, succulent stem, green to purplish, reaching 60–90 cm tall; the base becomes slightly woody with age.
ecoBell-shaped, pendulous flowers 0.8–1 cm long, with green to purplish calyx and pink to lavender corolla, gathered in terminal panicles; the plant flowers once then dies (monocarpic), though the plantlets perpetuate the lineage.
ecoFibrous, shallow to moderately deep roots; leaf-margin plantlets develop rudimentary aerial roots before detaching, allowing immediate establishment upon soil contact.
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Requirements
Soil & Substrate
Type
Sandy, sandy-loam, well-drained; tolerates stony and nutrient-poor soils.
groups Beneficial Associations
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Propagation Strategy
- 1 Collect the tiny plantlets that form along the toothed leaf margins.
- 2 Place directly on moist substrate (peat + perlite 1:1); do not cover.
- 3 Maintain at 20–25 °C with bright indirect light.
- 4 They root and grow in 2–3 weeks without any further intervention.
- 1 Cut an 8–10 cm stem with clean scissors.
- 2 Remove lower third leaves.
- 3 Callus for 1–2 days and plant in draining mix.
- 4 Rooting in 2–4 weeks at room temperature.
WARNING: toxic to pets and potentially invasive in gardens in warm climates — do not plant outdoors in subtropical zones.
Planting outdoors in warm regions where it naturalizes and can become an invasive weed.
Annually in spring; the plant grows fast and exhausts the substrate quickly.
Liquid balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks in spring–summer. Reduce in autumn–winter.
Uses & Applications
Precautions / Toxicity
HIGHLY TOXIC to cats, dogs, birds, and livestock. Contains daigremontianin and four other bufadienolides that cause cardiac and renal poisoning. The toxin is fat-soluble and present in all plant parts, including the tiny leaf-margin plantlets. Symptoms include muscle weakness, arrhythmia, cardiac and renal failure. Reported to cause livestock deaths in South Africa.
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"K. daigremontiana is a canonical model organism for studying CAM photosynthesis and asexual reproduction in vascular plants; its extracts have shown significant cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines (astrocytoma, breast, colorectal, lung, melanoma), attributed primarily to its unique bufadienolides."
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Scientific Integrity
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Sources
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Discussion
Disclaimer
This species record is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Jardín Roca Negra does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the data. Content is community-curated and may be subject to revision; it should not replace advice from a qualified botanist. This species may be toxic, invasive, or subject to legal restrictions — verify before handling or cultivating. Jardín Roca Negra accepts no liability for any harm arising from reliance on this information. Images are reproduced under Creative Commons or equivalent free licenses; credits are noted below each image.