Monday, October 26, 2009

Donkey Ears, Life Plant

Donkey Ears, new resident on the funny farm....Look what's happening in my garden July 2009. This was the headline to my post when I acquired this odd plant this past July.
Just look how it has grown since. (Giant Kalanchoe Gastonis Bonnieri) A really different looking plant was a recent find out in Mount Dora, Florida. Note the babies grow on the tips of the leaves. This plant was a perfect addition to my collection of "funny looking " plants....or out of the ordinary. When I researched this plant after I brought it home, I learned how interesting it really is. It forms a spike out of the center for the flower which is a beautiful-large bunch of bell-like flowers that attract Hummingbirds. I am looking forward to see this plant flower.
As promised this plant over the last few months has sent up a shoot almost 2 foot high. Because of its unique leaves, big flower stems, and its way of welcoming many hummingbirds, make Kalanchoe donkey ear top the lists of many succulent lovers. Young leaves of Kalanchoe donkey ear are light green or greenish white in color and become bigger with prominent mule spots as the plant grows. The leaves are shaped like a Donkey’s ear, thus it is commonly known as Donkey Ears. Kalanchoe donkey ear can reach a height of about 2 feet tall when it blooms producing showy drooping flowers with red and yellow colors.
Last week I started to notice that the new growth, had a different look. These are not additional leaves. My Donkey Ears plant is getting ready to burst into flower.
Look at those buds....getting ready to bloom into a major show-off plant. Now that it is budding and about to bloom, I continually walk past it when I'm outside in the yard just to see if the flowers have opened, I am like an expective mother!
Stay tuned in for more to follow....................

2 comments:

Denise Punger MD IBCLC said...

LOOKS GREAT. Mine is doing well also. It has grown a lot.

Scott said he saw a hummingbird in the butterfly garden!


Steve said he saw a seven foot gator on our lawn!

Orlando Realtor said...

Steve is likely accurate, I hope Scott really saw a hummingbird. I have never seen one, but am hoping to have that opportunity really soon with my pending bloom.