Kalanchoe thyrsiflora Harv.
White Lady / True Paddle Plant / Meelplakkie
Kalanchoe thyrsiflora is a biennial succulent native to South Africa (Northern, Western, and Eastern Cape, and Limpopo), where it grows on rocky slopes and thornbush. It produces a basal rosette of paddle-shaped rounded leaves coated in a thick white powdery bloom (farina), with slightly reddish margins in dry seasons; its flowers are yellow and fragrant, produced in a dense thyrse at the end of its biennial cycle.
chevron_right edit_note Proposed edits auto-approved at +3 net votes
No pending proposals for this section.
© Wikimedia Commons
Public domain
Overview
| Category | Classification |
|---|---|
| Family | Crassulaceae |
| Genus | Kalanchoe |
| Growth Habit | Glabrous biennial succulent; basal rosette the first year, flowering scape the second, then the rosette dies. |
| Conservation Status | No threat category; rare in pure cultivation (most plants labeled thyrsiflora in horticulture are actually K. luciae). |
| pH Target | 6.0 – 7.0 |
| Type | Sandy-loam to sandy, very well-drained, with moderate organic matter and good peat content. |
Origin & Habitat
Morphology
Rounded to spatulate leaves, whitish-green with abundant farina (white epicuticular wax), up to 15 cm long; margins are cream to slightly pinkish-red under stress. Unlike K. luciae, under stress it becomes light green rather than deep red, and its bloom is whiter and denser.
ecoErect, robust, terete (cylindrical), unbranched stem reaching 75–150 cm at full flowering; densely white-powdery in its juvenile state.
ecoYellow, cylindrical-tubular flowers, small (approx. 1.5 cm), gathered in a dense, many-flowered thyrse; fragrant; with only 4 exserted anthers (a diagnostic trait distinguishing it from K. luciae, which has 8 exserted anthers).
ecoModerately deep fibrous root system; very sensitive to compacted or poorly aerated substrates.
ecochevron_right edit_note Proposed edits auto-approved at +3 net votes
No pending proposals for this section.
Requirements
Soil & Substrate
Type
Sandy-loam to sandy, very well-drained, with moderate organic matter and good peat content.
groups Beneficial Associations
chevron_right edit_note Proposed edits auto-approved at +3 net votes
No pending proposals for this section.
Propagation Strategy
- 1 Separate basal offsets in spring when they have 3–4 leaves.
- 2 Callus for 2–3 days.
- 3 Establish in well-draining succulent substrate.
- 4 Water lightly after 7–10 days; place in full sunlight.
- 1 Remove a leaf from the rosette with the full base.
- 2 Callus for 3–5 days lying horizontally.
- 3 Place on mineral substrate; maintain at 22–26 °C.
- 4 Emerging plantlet in 8–14 weeks.
WARNING: toxic to dogs and cats. K. thyrsiflora and K. luciae are very similar species; both are monocarpic.
Confusing it with K. luciae without distinguishing subtle differences in leaf shape and coating.
Every 2 years in spring. Like K. luciae, wait for offset production as a renewal method.
Low-N, high K-P fertilizer monthly from March to September. No fertilization in winter.
Uses & Applications
Precautions / Toxicity
TOXIC to dogs and cats; like all Kalanchoe, contains bufadienolides (calcium glycosides) with cardiotoxic effects. Symptoms in pets include vomiting, diarrhea, and heart rhythm abnormalities.
chevron_right edit_note Proposed edits auto-approved at +3 net votes
No pending proposals for this section.
"K. thyrsiflora has a historically confused taxonomy: the vast majority of specimens marketed under this name worldwide are actually K. luciae, a later-described species with morphological similarities but distinguishable by the number of exserted anthers, color under stress, and flower scent. This confusion has persisted in international horticulture since the 1970s."
chevron_right edit_note Proposed edits auto-approved at +3 net votes
No pending proposals for this section.
Scientific Integrity
🟡 MediumVote to help validate this record
Sources
Loading…
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.