Succulent
Flaming Katy Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana · Crassulaceae
Also called: Flaming Katy, Florist Kalanchoe, Christmas Kalanchoe, Madagascar Widow's-thrill
Flaming Katy Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) is a low-water succulent well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It grows to 6-18 in tall and wide, with a slow to moderate growth rate.
Flaming Katy Kalanchoe at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- In Tucson grown best in bright filtered light or morning sun only; intense afternoon summer sun scorches leaves and bleaches blooms. Commonly grown as an indoor/patio container plant in bright indirect light.
- Mature size
- 6-18 in tall and wide
- Growth rate
- Slow to moderate
- Bloom
- Red, orange, pink, yellow, white, and salmon depending on cultivar, Long-lasting clusters of small flowers chiefly late winter through spring (often Dec-May indoors); it is a short-day plant, so bloom is triggered by long fall/winter nights.
- Cold hardiness
- Frost-tender; damaged below about 40 F and killed by freezing. Protect from Tucson winter frosts by bringing containers indoors or to a covered patio when nights drop near or below freezing.
- Soil
- Fast-draining cactus/succulent mix or amended sandy potting soil; never heavy clay. Containers preferred over Tucson native ground soil.
- Native range
- Madagascar
- Best used as
- Container/patio color, Indoor houseplant, Seasonal winter-spring bloom accent, Windowsill succulent
- Wildlife
- Flowers offer minor nectar for bees and butterflies but it is not a notable Sonoran Desert wildlife plant.
- Toxicity
- Toxic to dogs, cats, and livestock; contains bufadienolide cardiac glycosides that cause vomiting, drooling, and in large amounts heart-rhythm problems. Keep away from pets and small children.
How to grow Flaming Katy Kalanchoe in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Water deeply only when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry, then let drain fully; cut back to about every 2-3 weeks in winter. Overwatering causes crown and root rot, so always use a draining pot.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Light feeder; apply a dilute balanced or bloom (higher-phosphorus) liquid fertilizer at half strength monthly only during active spring-summer growth, and stop in fall/winter. Excess nitrogen produces leaves at the expense of flowers.
Pruning & care
Deadhead spent flower clusters and pinch back leggy stems after bloom to keep the plant compact; cuttings root easily.
Notes
In Tucson treat as a frost-tender container or indoor succulent rather than an in-ground landscape plant. Best displayed on shaded/morning-sun patios in the hot season and moved to protection in winter; re-bloom requires 6+ weeks of long uninterrupted dark nights in fall.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension / Pima County Master Gardeners; World of Succulents (worldofsucculents.com); ASPCA Toxic Plant database