Giant Kalanchoe Redbells

Giant kalanchoes are ideal for the dry climate cottage gardener.

• They have excellent floral displays--of beautiful red-orange bells--in autumn and spring.
• The bells will be visited by some honeyeaters.
• The spikes of bells make an excellent and long-lasting cut flower.
• They are fleshy succulents, and drought-hardy like cacti.
• They won't catch on fire.
• They are easy to propagate. Just break off a piece, and locate them wherever you desire.
• The leaves are very attractive, with bright red lines around the edges of the ''blades''.
• They can stand quite heavy frosts.
  
  
  Our garden has become quite magical with kalanchoe redbells everywhere. A little bit of red lights up a garden; so giant red kalanchoes can become an important part of the dry climate gardener's colour pallette.
  
  Personally, I can't get enough of them. My boyfriend loves them, too. I'm determined to plant more and more of them every year. It's a pity that they aren't commonly available in more colours. If plant breeders can make so many different sweet pea colours, all from the one original wild Sicilian sweet pea, then there's surely the possibility of dry climate gardens full of kalanchoe bells of various colours--pinks, whites, yellows, oranges, reds etc.
  
  They are very tough and, once established, will survive drought; but do need a bit of water to get them off to a good start. Once they get to a nice big size, you can pretty much sit back and admire them forever, as they take care of themselves then. But they do appreciate an occasional drink of water.