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A Kalanchoe by Any Other Name...
My mother bought me the cutest pink flowering plant in a little 2-inch bunny planter for Easter. She told me that she thought it was the prettiest Kalanchoe that she had ever seen. It was adorable, and just bursting with flowers. I was a little puzzled though. The leaves looked like classic scalloped Kalanchoe leaves, but the flowers were different. They looked like a supercharged Kalanchoe on steroids. I noticed that the label on the bottom of the planter said Calandiva.
The World of Succulents website and the Calandiva.com website helped to clear things up. Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is the scientific name for the typical florist Kalanchoe that we all know and love. It has 4 petals to each blossom. In 1998 a grower found a mutant plant whose blossoms had 32 petals per flower. After 4 years of research and careful breeding, growers were able to release this cultivar to the public as Calandiva. So, the official scientific name is Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Calandiva'. It is now available in many colors and is extremely popular.
It is only hardy in USDA zones 10-12, so for most of us, it is grown as a houseplant. Calandiva needs essentially the same care as other Kalanchoe. They need light to flourish. They also need well-draining soil and to be able to dry out between waterings.
Now that I knew what I was dealing with, I looked at my Calandiva and noticed that this full, tall, blooming plant was in a small 2-inch pot. Sure enough, when I turned it over, roots had grown out the bottom. So, I repotted it in a 4-inch pot so it will have some room to stretch out. It seems to be very happy in its new home. According to the experts I can expect to enjoy the blossoms for 4-6 weeks. Thanks, Mom!
