There are approximately a zillion different Kalanchoes, so I suspect you both have different species...

I wonder if some of the bromeliads would work for you, particularly the Neoregelia types? Those "flower" when the leaves turn color and that coloration can be really outstanding. I don't think you would have any allergies with these plants and they are certainly easy to take care of.

Thanks for mentioning that, Hetty. I had blanked on the name of mine earlier, but it is Kalanchoe daigremontiana. They drop plantlets like it's going out of style, but don't seem very inclined to bloom.

They grew better for me with more light (I've moved a few times with them, so they've had a south-facing window and a west-facing sunroom), but right now, the north-facing window is the best I can offer. They'll get more light whenever I move again But since they never bloomed in the other situations either, I think it has to do with the particular species/variety.

They bloom for us here. And if we don't watch out they spread like crazy!

Okay, has anyone mentioned the Schlumbergera-type of plants like Christmas Cactus or whatever they are called these days.

Those plants prefer to not be in bright light - unfortunately, I learned that the hard way and have a huge sunburned plant. The OP can pinch off the flowers.

Ken, I always thought bromeliads required lots of light? I love the reddish orange ones I see around here.

Any thoughts on if a rubber tree would survive in the light I have? (And can they be started from leaves? TONS of them around here I could snag clippings from)

Bromeliads, the vast majority of them, are shade-loving plants. Some can be acclimated (slowly) to full sun, but for the most part, they will get badly sunburned with sun between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Most are also epiphytic as well, thus their easy care. This majority have few roots and only use the soil as anchorage. They obtain moisture and nutrients through the water in their "urns".

I have rubber trees but always propagate them from branch cuttings. I have never tried to start one from a leaf, and don't know if that is done or not. Sorry.

I will need to pick some up then! I might check with someone here to see if I can get a branch cutting from a rubber tree, they are nearly impossible to find in the stores here.

I mainly want a rubber tree for outside. They are fine and survive our winters with no problem

Joe, I don't think you are referring to the houseplant, "Rubber Tree", Ficus elastica. This is a tropical plant and does not like cold weather. It would surely die if temperatures get down into the 20's. I grow rubber trees (I have a small, tropical plant business), and because of lack of space, I had to leave out a dozen or so rubber trees this winter. I have lost every single one of them. I also lost lots of jade, dozens of aloe vera, and a dozen or more schefflera plants. I kept some of all of these in a greenhouse and had to take a chance with the rest.

Maybe it's a different tree then, they look like rubber trees though.

Why not post a photo so others can make an ID and give you the botanical name?

It would help if you could take some pictures of those trees and post the pictures. That would help ID them.

How tall do those trees get? Are they evergreen or do they shed their leaves in the fall/winter months?

Here are a couple of pictures of the rubber trees I grow. One variety has green leaves with maroon veins and the other has some maroon in their leaves.

I was going to get a picture, but then I asked. It's a magnolia grandiflora. Looks like a large rubber tree, until you look closely at the leaves. Ooops

Be aware that when a bromeliad colors up, it's because it's getting ready to flower. Flowers are quite small and very short lasting, compared to the time of the leaf color.

That magnolia grows to about 60-80 feet tall. Hmm, maybe the dwarf variety would be better, only 30-40 feet tall. How large is your yard?

Try an Exbury hybrid Magnolia grandiflora, they grow bigger than 80 feet and grow very wide!
We have a Victorian house that is very dark indeed, the only thing we can grow in our front room which thrives are Aspidstras and they do flower for us.
I also grow some Nepenthes in one of the bathrooms as they like it there.
Regards.
Neil.

Greene, there is no yard, but can always give it away when it gets too big I've not seen them that big though (maybe 5 metres or so tall)

I quite like the Aspidstras, I'll need to have a look and see if I can find some, I can always clip the buds (as I saw mentioned earlier on).

As for the bromeliads flowering, does it flower on top of the leaves? Or does it form a shoot that buds?

Magnolia is not a houseplant!