Kalanchoe thyrsiflora

One of the plants sold as paddle plant or flapjacks (often confused with K. luciae): a monocarpic Kalanchoe of rocky grassland in the South African highveld, Lesotho, Eswatini and Botswana, with chalky grey-green paddles that redden in sun and cold. It needs full sun, a dry cold winter and summer water.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night A clear drop at nightTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry

Light Full sunDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

Grows on rocky ridges and outcrops in highveld grassland, often among boulders, in full exposure. Plants die after their dense yellow flower spike, leaving offsets.

Most records lie on the highveld around 1,000–1,800 m; few record an elevation.

South AfricaBotswanaLesothoEswatini

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.