Weedy succulent to about 2-3 feet tall with long, mottled green/brown leaves and dramatic reddish flowers hanging like a chandelier from the top. This is one of several Kalanchoes that produce offspring (bulbils) asexually from their leaves and drop them everywhere, leading to volunteer Kalanchoes in the container garden and especially in the ground. The common name is descriptive but the proliferous behavior is not unique to this plant.

I have seen this plant gone feral from a Mexican botanical garden, spreading up the hill and into habitat normally occupied by cacti and agaves, displacing the native plants and pretty much dominating the scene... which is pretty when they are all in bloom, but otherwise not a great sight.

Expect endless, annoying streams of baby plants in the container garden and widespread invasion in the ground. Do not plant this Kalanchoe where it may escape. It is especially good at invading new territory in dry climates as long as it is not threatened by frost. It is surprisingly drought tolerant in our climate, where summers are typically bone dry and there is an annual drought of 5-8 months most years. Extreme drought will reduce the number of offspring, but a little bit of rain here and there at the right times will see them return.

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These babies popped up in a pot of mixed plants I bought, and the original plant had already died, so these were a nice surprise.

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