KALANCHOE pumila

Seductive small succulent, perennial and evergreen, with fast growth and a thick, regular, globose cushion habit, native to southern Africa, in particular Madagascar. At the maximum of its development, it can grow 20 cm tall and up to 50 cm large. Semi-woody at the base and densely branched, it has numerous thin stems with an initial upright, erect course. These at the top slightly curve outwards and tend to assume a drooping and creeping trend, which gives the plant a compact and rounded appearance. The leaves, opposite and obovate, fleshy and, like all the branches, covered by a light pruine layer, with obtuse apex and conspicuously indented margins only in the apical portion, are of a fascinating silvery gray color sometimes tinged with purple. Between the end of winter and the whole of spring, a surprisingly generous flowering covers the entire plant. Supported by slender stems that form in the apical part of the branches, abundant hemispherical inflorescences, composed of small tubular flowers with 4 pinkish petals curled towards the low and longitudinally veined with purple, stand out on the cushion of the foliage in a decidedly refined chromatic contrast.

It prefers bright and sunny or only partially shaded locations and requires poor, dry, even stony soils but above all permeable and well drained. It tolerates even protracted periods of drought as well as the salinity typical of sea winds in coastal areas. It bears minimum winter temperatures only a few degrees below zero, therefore in regions characterized by intense and lasting cold, let us guarantee it a sheltered and dry position or shelter in a cool and bright environment in winter. It does not require special interventions; after flowering, together with the dried flower stems, old or damaged or cluttered parts can be eliminated: a slight topping of the various stems will promote more compact growth of the plant and, consequently, a more copious subsequent flowering. Suitable for cultivation in pots or containers of modest size on balconies and terraces: then exploiting their partially prostrate or drooping posture, it is also perfect in suspended baskets. In the open ground, use it to enrich our rock or to create very low borders or to accompany other cacti and succulents in the desert corner of our garden.