Photo Courtesy of Errol Dowes
Chandelier plant, or Mother of millions, Bryophyllum delagoense
This popular garden plant, also known as Kalenchoe, is a succulent from Madagascar that grows from 30cm to 1.2m in height.
It has pencil shaped grey-green leaves with dark green to reddish spots. The flowers range from pale orange to deep magenta and flower during June and July, followed by small fruits with numerous seeds. It spreads prolifically, not only from seeds which remain viable in the soil for many years, but also by producing thousands of small plantlets at the leaf tips, which when broken off can develop into new plants.
The plants is extremely hardy and can survive and reproduce in a variety of conditions, hence it competes with indigenous vegetation and can eventually displace it. It is also extremely poisonous to humans and animals.
To eradicate this plant:Â A suitable herbicide can be applied when the plants are in flower, as they are not only more visible, but spraying at this time will also prevent them from setting seed. Small infestations can be removed by hand, taking care not to dislodge the plantlets at the leaf-tips, after which the plants should be burned or allowed to decompose in black bags to prevent spread.
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