Kalanchoe laciniata aka Christmastree Plant

Kalanchoe laciniata belongs to the Crassulaceae family. It is a succulent subshrub, a small shrub with fleshy growth. Its common names include Christmas tree kalanchoe and fir tree kalanchoe. Kew lists Assam within its native range. Useful Tropical Plants lists a wider range in tropical eastern Africa. This range also spans the Arabian Peninsula. The same source lists southern India and Thailand too. The species is not native to Britain or Ireland. Kew places it in the tropics, where seasons bring dry spells.

This upright plant is a short-lived perennial. Some plants may instead live as biennials, lasting two years. Useful Tropical Plants gives its height as about 3.3 feet [1 metre]. Plants in flower can reach about 3.9 feet [1.2 metres]. These heights do not show its usual size in gardens. The fleshy stem tends not to branch as it grows. In dry spells, growth above the ground dies back. A large tuber stays in the soil beneath it. This change in form is part of its response to dry spells.

Leaf shape changes as the stems grow and develop. Young stems have oval leaves. Older stems have deeply cut leaves, known as laciniate leaves. On plants in flower, the leaves take a spear shape. Thus, leaf shape alone can make the same species look quite different. The supplied species account does not give the flower colour. It does not state when blooms appear or describe the fruit. The RHS describes flowers for the genus as a whole. That account does not cover this species alone.

In the wild, it grows in rocky grassland and open bushland. It also grows in scrub and at the edges of thickets. Sites include stony ground, rocky slopes and ledges. The habitat account lists shaded sites with sandy soil. It also lists soil rich in humus, or decayed plant matter. The height range is about 1,476–6,890 feet [450–2,100 metres] above sea level. These wild sites do not show its exact garden needs. They do not set light or water needs for gardens. The source gives no growing guide or cold-hardiness rating.

Useful Tropical Plants notes its value as a plant for display. It says seeds can grow into new plants. A leaf with stem tissue still attached can also produce new plants. Laid on soil, that piece can form roots and new growth. The account lists no edible use for this plant. It says it knows of no hazards. That claim does not prove the plant is safe. The supplied evidence gives no pest or disease facts specific to this species.