Crassulaceae

Madagascar widow's-thrill

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Poelln.

Family: Crassulaceae
Genus: Kalanchoe

Pets and kids

CatsToxic
DogsToxic
KidsToxic

Why

Cats: Toxic

Toxic to cats (moderate). Toxic principle: bufadienolides.

Signs: vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythm, lethargy, drooling.

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana - Plant Toolbox - NC State University University or extension

Dogs: Toxic

Toxic to dogs (moderate). Toxic principle: bufadienolides.

Signs: vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythm, lethargy, nausea.

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana - Plant Toolbox - NC State University University or extension

Kids: Toxic

Toxic to young children (moderate). Toxic principle: bufadienolides.

Signs: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abnormal heart rhythm.

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana - Plant Toolbox - NC State University University or extension

Ate some? Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). For a child, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). If they are struggling to breathe or collapse, call 911. Don't give anything by mouth unless a vet or poison expert tells you to.

Madagascar widow's-thrill (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) — FlowerPhoto: Dante, CC BY-SA 2.5, from Wikimedia Commons

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Common names

By language (7)

Chinese: 燕子海棠, 红弁庆, 長壽花, 长寿花, 圣诞伽蓝菜
Danish: Brændende Kærlighed, Kalanchoë blossfeldiana
English: Madagascar widow's-thrill, Flaming katy, Kalanchoe
Finnish: Tulilatva, Kalanchoë blossfeldiana
German: Flammendes Kätchen, Flammendes Käthchen
Hebrew: ניצנית אדומה, ניצנית פורחת
Swedish: Våreld

Synonyms

Kalanchoe globulifera var. coccinea H.Perrier

Flowers

In flower: January, March, September (from 13 flowering iNaturalist observations worldwide)

Characteristics

Growth habit: Forb/herb
Lifespan: Perennial
In the US and Canada: Lower 48 states: introduced, Puerto Rico: introduced

Photos

FlowerPhoto: Dante, CC BY-SA 2.5, from Wikimedia Commons
FlowerPhoto: Vera Moni, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF
FlowerPhoto: Sebastián Ordóñez, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
FlowerPhoto: chiuluan, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
FlowerPhoto: Eleusinian, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF
Whole plantPhoto: Arne Holgersson, CC0, from iNaturalist
LeavesPhoto: chiuluan, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Whole plantPhoto: birdzilla, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
FlowerPhoto: Wildfeuer, CC BY 2.5, from Wikimedia Commons
FlowerPhoto: Thomas Mesaglio, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
FlowerPhoto: Wildfeuer, CC BY 2.5, from Wikimedia Commons
Whole plantPhoto: Cdpanic at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons

More in Kalanchoe

Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.