Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Variegated Flapjacks
Variegated Flapjacks is the striped form of the paddle plant, with round, flat leaves streaked in cream, pink and red over gray-green. The leaves stack in a low rosette about 1 to 2 feet tall and wide, and pups fill in around it over time. It suits a patio pot, a shaded bed or a mixed succulent planting. In the Valley it colors best with morning sun and afternoon shade.
Best for: patio pots, shaded beds and mixed succulent plantings where the striped leaves show up close.
At 1 to 2 feet tall and wide, it fits a patio pot where the cream and pink streaks show. Use cactus mix and a pot with a drainage hole.
Plant it where it gets morning sun and shade from the afternoon sun. Harsh sun and temperature swings can damage the striped leaves.
It has the same round, stacked paddle leaves as plain Flapjacks, with cream, pink and red streaks added. Both need the same care.
Frost near 30°F can damage it, and harsh afternoon sun burns the leaves. It is toxic to dogs and cats if eaten, so keep chewing pets away.
Water a new plant to get it rooted. After that, let the soil dry out completely before watering again. Keep it on the dry side in winter.
Give it morning sun and shade from the afternoon sun. Harsh sun and temperature swings can damage the leaves, so water sparingly in summer.
Cover it with frost cloth or a sheet down to the ground, not plastic, on frost nights. Move potted plants under cover and keep the soil dry.
A rosette that blooms sends up a stalk of yellow flowers and then fades. Leave the pups at the base to fill in, or move some to new pots.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does Variegated Flapjacks get?
It grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and wide and forms a clump of pups over time. Give it a pot or spot with room to spread.
What colors are the leaves?
The round leaves are gray-green, streaked with cream, pink and red, with red edges. For the best color, give it bright morning sun and shade in the afternoon.
Is it the same as Kalanchoe luciae 'Fantastic'?
Yes. This striped paddle plant is sold as Kalanchoe luciae 'Fantastic' and as Kalanchoe thyrsiflora 'Variegata'. Care is the same under either name.
Does it need shade in Phoenix?
Yes. Harsh sun and temperature swings can damage the striped leaves. Give it morning sun only, with shade from the afternoon sun.
How often should I water it?
Let the soil dry out completely, then water deeply. Keep it dry in winter, when wet soil and cold can rot it.
Can it handle frost?
No. It can be damaged near 30°F. On frost nights, cover it with frost cloth down to the ground or move a potted plant under cover.
Does it die after it blooms?
The rosette that blooms sends up a stalk of yellow flowers, then fades. Pups at the base carry the plant on, so leave them to fill in.
Is it toxic to pets?
Yes. Kalanchoe is toxic to dogs and cats if eaten, most often causing vomiting and diarrhea. Heart rhythm problems are rare and depend on how much is eaten. Keep pets away and call your vet if they chew it.
When is the best time to plant it?
Plant it in March or April, after frost danger, so it roots in before summer. September and October also work. Avoid planting in the summer heat.
Variegated Flapjacks for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Variegated Flapjacks is the cream, pink and red striped form of the paddle plant, Kalanchoe luciae 'Fantastic', also sold as Kalanchoe thyrsiflora 'Variegata'. This page covers its size, sun and shade in the Valley, water, frost, blooming and pups, pets, planting months and soil.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Variegated Flapjacks vs regular Flapjacks
Both have round, stacked paddle leaves and the same care. The variegated form adds cream, pink and red streaks. Its striped leaves are easily damaged by harsh sun, so give it afternoon shade.
Does variegated paddle plant need shade in Arizona?
Yes. Give it morning sun only, with shade from the afternoon sun. Harsh sun and temperature swings can damage the striped leaves.
How big does Kalanchoe luciae 'Fantastic' get?
It grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. Pups come up around the base and form a clump over time.
Is variegated paddle plant frost hardy?
No. It can be damaged near 30°F. Cover it on frost nights, keep the soil dry in winter and move pots under cover.
Is paddle plant toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. Kalanchoe is toxic to dogs and cats if eaten. Vomiting and diarrhea are the usual signs, and heart rhythm problems are rare. Keep pets away and call your vet if they chew it.
When to plant variegated Flapjacks in the Valley
Plant it in March or April after frost danger, or in September and October. Summer planting is hardest on young plants.
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