Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi aka Lavender Scallops

Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi, formerly known as Bryophyllum fedtschenkoi, is a low-growing, frost-tender perennial succulent native to Madagascar and tropical Africa. It is widely sold as a house or garden plant and has established itself in the wild in some southern parts of the United States of America. Its specific epithet fedtschenkoi honors botanist Boris Fedtschenko (1873-1947). The plant prefers dry, open ground and grows to 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) tall as an untidy, low, rounded herb. The stems are round, smooth and lax with visible leaf scars and often bend and touch the ground where they produce roots and new plants. The fleshy, alternate, blue-green leaves are oval or obovate with fine scalloped edges, which may turn pink or red under strong sunlight or drought conditions. The tubular flowers are in corymbs, often multi-layered in good conditions. Each flower has a short calyx edged with delta-shaped segments, which is shorter than its tubular corolla. The corolla is an orange/coral/apricot color and the flowers are pendant. Commonly called ‘Lavender Scallops’ from the shape and color of its leaves, Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi has few pests but may harbor mealy bugs or occasionally scale insects. The Kalanchoe genus includes plants with rubbery green leaves, leopard print, and some that are even fuzzy. The word Kalanchoe comes from the Cantonese name for these plants, pronounced Ka-lun-koh-ee in English. These succulent plants store water in their leaves during droughts, making them able to tolerate skipped waterings.