Here’s your tough flowering houseplant
Most flowering houseplants can be traced back to an earlier century, but kalanchoes were found in the mountains of Madagascar by German plant explorer Robert Blossfeld between 1910 and 1915.
Fittingly, the species behind almost all the modern hybrids was named for him, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. He’d be amazed, I’m pretty sure, if he could see what has come from his efforts today. They’re one of the most popular mid-winter flowering houseplants in the world today, with annual sales valued in the billions of dollars.
Here are the major stepping stones…
• In the 1920s and 30s the species was brought to Europe. It had single, orange-red flowers that bloomed for a short period of time.
• By the broad era of the 1950s-80s Dutch breeders set out to develop selections with larger flower heads, more intense colors, compact growth habits, and better durability in shipping.
• At the same time, breeders were working on the plants’ photoperiod responses. Kalanchoes, like poinsettias and Christmas cacti, are “short-day” plants. They bloom when nights get long. Breeders were working to refine and perfect that process.
• By the 1970s the Dutch had made kalanchoes a major commercial crop.
• Soon thereafter Danish growers began to use growth regulators to keep their plants compact. By the 1980s Denmark was the world’s largest producer of kalanchoes, and they were doing so year ‘round.
• In the 1990s the Dutch developed double-flowering kalanchoes that looked like tiny roses. They bloomed for an extended period, and they had the widest range of colors to date.
• 2000-current we have seen entirely new shades of coral, purple, and near-magenta. Bicolors are available, and plants stay ultra-compact naturally. Some even have variegated foliage. There seems to be no end to the variety.
Today, kalanchoes are grown in The Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Kenya, Ethiopia, Central America, California, and Florida.
How I jumped on the bandwagon…
In my time in this industry in Texas, I initially saw kalanchoes as a teenager around 1960. They were being researched in the greenhouses at Texas A&M in College Station. From the time I was only 7 or 8 I had a deep interest in succulents, and to see such beautiful succulents blooming their hearts out was beyond my wildest dreams.
I soon learned the name Jim Erwin of Erwin Greenhouses in Canyon, Texas, as the state’s leader in kalanchoes. Prof. A.F. deWerth at A&M was working with him on developing the crop. Prof deWerth didn’t talk with us much about his research (let alone me, still a high school student). I found all this out later.
Mr. Erwin was one of the earliest American pioneers in growing kalanchoes stateside – even before the Dutch and Danish megafirms took over the market.
Mr. Erwin and his team didn’t try to compete with the international crowd. His niche was to import early varieties and evaluate them in West Texas growing conditions. He shared the promising varieties with fellow Texas growers, and he helped make kalanchoes a year ‘round crop here in Texas.
I admired Mr. Erwin’s work from afar for 20 years and I heard people in the industry speak highly of him. One night after I gave a talk in Lubbock and was working my way through the line of attendees to answer their questions, a kind gentleman stepped up, extended his hand, and quietly said, “Neil, I’m Jim Erwin.” I guess he could tell as I turned to mush that I did recognize him. Obviously, that was a night I’ll never forget.
And, not to forget…
The genus Kalanchoe has many other fascinating representatives. Here are just a few. I’ll bet you’ll recognize some of them.
• Kalanchoe beharensis Felt bush
• Kalanchoe tomentosa Panda plant
• Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi Lavender scallops
• Kalachoe luciae Flapjack, Paddle plant
• Kalanchoe daigremontiana Mother-of-thousands
• Kalanchoe tubiflora Mother-of-millions.
So, that’s my story. It’s been fun writing it for you. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have.