Mother of Millions 1

This is a type of succulent plant which has a special shape and pattern.  There are thousands or millions of plantlets on its leaves’ tips, that is why it is called Mother of Millions.  It is also called Mother of Thousands and Chandelier plant.  Its scientific name is called “Kalanchoe delagoensis”.

Mother of Millions 2

In Chinese, we call it “QianZiWanSun” which means thousands of children and ten-thousand (means many) of grandchildren.

Mother of Millions 3

Each leaf tip has at least 3 to 10 plantlets, when the plantlets are old enough they will drop onto the ground and become new plants.

Mother of Millions 4
After the plantlets leave their mother, they leave some marks on their mother’s leave tips which tell that that piece of leave has produced plantlets.  As far as I have observed, each leave only gives birth to multiple baby plantlets once only, then it gets old, dry and drop off the plant.

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This is a young mother.  Mother of Millions can produce plantlets even when the plant is still young.

Mother of Millions 6
These are 2 siblings who have just left their mother for a few days.  They will become mothers soon.

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Mother of Millions grows naturally in many countries like grass here, but we grow it in a protected area in our garden.  It can become rotten easily during rain season or if the soil is not well drained.

I saw its flowers in red-lantern-shape when I was hiking Tabletop mountain (Toowoomba, Australia) years back.  It never flowers in my garden, maybe due to the climate here or I should give it more fertilizer.

Mother of Millions 8

In some countries, it is categorized as weeds, or pest plant.  It is highly toxic to stock and difficult to eradicate.  This plant is very poisonous especially its flowers.

In Quensland, Australia, it is a “Declared Class 2 Pest Plant” under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002.  Class 2 pests are established in Queensland and have, or could have, an adverse economic, environmental or social impact.  Landowners must take reasonable steps to keep land free of Class 2 pests.  It is a serious offence to introduce, keep or supply a Class 2 pest without a permit issued by Biosecurity Queensland. Penalties of up to $30,000 apply.  [source from Queensland Government Website] .

Link 1: Class 2 declared plants
Link 2: Mother-of-millions

Its shape looks artistic, but it is poisonous, so beware when you handle this plant.  Keep your pets away from this plant!