;From the north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal province north through Swaziland, Mpumalanga and the Northern Province into Zimbabwe, Kalanchoe luciae ssp. luciae is a branching succulent with paddle shaped leaves that form reddish margins in good light. The plant is often confused with Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, which looks almost identical but doesn't form the reddish color. It eventually branches at the base forming a clump 2 foot high and wide. A fairly fast grower, the one above was only the size of it's smallest offset when I got it last summer (2005). It's now about 18 inches tall and a foot wide. In fall 2006 I decided to cut off and re-root the top and let the sideshoots mature. I also took a number of leaves as it's reportedly easy to grow from leaf cuttings. The first picture below is the same plant a year earlier.
     ;Update, late November 2006. None of the leaf cuttings took and the main head decided to flower. They die after flowering. Fortunately the original potfull is in good shape. And the flowers are interesting. The plant has a powdery white bloom on its stems. It rubs off on your fingers. This bloom even covers the flower stalk, buds and flowers. The petals of the flowers stick straight out initially and then fold back on themselves as the flower opens.

The same plant a year ago	The white powdery flower stalk	Newly opened flowers	A little closer
A fully open flower