Kalanchoe delagoensis (mother-of-millions / kandelaarplant) is a listed Category 1b alien invasive plant species in terms of the 2014 Alien and Invasive Species Regulations of The National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) (Act No. 10 of 2004). Two other exotic and invasive Kalanchoe species are listed as Category 1b, although not documented for Gauteng, namely K. pinnata (cathederal bells) and K. prolifera (green mother-of-millions). In addition,
K. daigremontiana (mother-of-thousands), K. fedtschenkoi (lavender scallops) and
K. gastonis-bonnieri (donkey ears) are also known to be cultivated in SA and are potentially invasive. 

K. pinnata
Photo: Ann Stafford

Origin: All the above Kalanchoe species are native to Madagascar and was introduced through the horticulture trade as decorative plants and some are now garden escapees, while others have the potential to become invasive. Mother-of-millions has invaded eastern and southern Africa, eastern Australia, South America, south-eastern USA and certain oceanic islands with warm climates. In SA it has become naturalised in parts of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and the coastal regions of KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern and Southern Cape. In the Kruger National Park, the plant escaped from the tourist camps. Being extremely drought resistant, the plant has the potential to proliferate in drier regions of the country. 

K. prolifera
Photo: Lisa Hester

Description: From the Crassulacea (stonecrop) family, mother-of-millions is an erect, perennial succulent of 20-120 cm high. Leaves are elongated, narrow and cylindrical, greyish-pinkish green with darker shaded mottling or spots. Leaf tips are covered in what appears to be smaller leaves, but are in fact tiny plantlets (embryoids), which will form new plants when dropped to the ground. Bright orange-pinkish-red bell-shaped flowers are borne on tall stems in clusters during winter. The fruit are papery follicles containing miniscule seeds, released after flowers dry out. Up to 20 000 seeds can be produced by a single plant and seeds remain viable in the soil for many years.

K. delagoensis flowers
Photo: L Kritzinger

Impact: Due to its hardiness and prolific nature, mother-of-millions can explode in dry rocky ridges, savannah, grassland and urban areas, spread by seed washing down during flooding events and dumping of garden waste. All parts of the plant (including flowers) are lethally toxic to livestock, as well as people and pets. It can cause paralysis and death.   

Control methods: Plants can be removed manually, and should either be bagged and disposed of when well-rotted, buried deep or burned. In large natural areas, fire can suppress populations considerably and stimulate grass regeneration. No herbicide is formally registered for the plant, but herbicides containing triclopyr and picloram, fluroxypyr or metsulfuron-methyl should be effective. No biological control agent is available. Follow-up is essential to remove new generation from seed or plantlets missed before.

K. delagoensis plant
Photo: L Kritzinger

Indigenous alternatives: Indigenous Kalanchoe species, such as K. rotundifolia (round-leaf kalanchoe / nentabos), K. paniculata (large orange kalanchoe / hasieoor), K, thyrsiflora (white lady / meelplakkie), K. sexangularis (bushveld kalanchoe / bosveldplakkie) and Cotyledon orbiculata (pig’s ears / varkoor), C. barbeyi (bushveld cotyledon / plakkie), C. adscendens (climbing cotyledon / rankplakkie) and many more. 

Visit www.invasives.org.za for more information on alien and invasive plant and animal species.

This article was sponsored by Toorbosch