Mother of thousands
Kalanchoe daigremontiana
Also called Mexican hat plant, Alligator plant and Devil's backbone
Houseplant · Succulents & cactiEVERY PLANTLET THAT FALLS WILL ROOT, in the pot next door and in the carpet. Stand it on a tray and expect to be weeding it out of everything else for years.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 12 daysSoak, then bone-dry — wait until the soil is dry right through — lift the pot, it tells you.
- Light
- Bright, with some direct sun
- Feed
- Every 60 days
- Humidity
- Low
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out in high summer RHS H1B, to 10°C
- Size
- 0.9 m tall · 0.3 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Madagascar
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
Affects dogs, cats, horses.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-08-04.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.