Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
Today I am joining Cathy’s In A Vase On Monday challenge. First I had planned to offer a vase filled using zinnias from my garden, but instead I decided to feature a new houseplant.
When my architect daughter was in college majoring in industrial design, she built a modernistic table that could hold a plant. Later she presented it to me as a most memorable Mother’s Day gift. This innovative walnut table with copper fittings sits near a pair of windows in our upstairs reading room. The room faces east so early morning sun easily filters in, keeping plants quite content.
Kalanchoe In Walnut Plant Table
I usually choose plants for this table that do not need frequent watering. This week I spotted a white Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) with plenty of blooms at the local grocery and knew it could work well in this setting. With scalloped edges on the thick leaves and clusters of tiny flowers, this is an inexpensive and long-lasting houseplant.
Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
While Kalanchoe is not an uncommon plant I most often I see it for sale in shades of terra-cotta or red, and sometimes yellow. Actually I have never noticed a white one before.
Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
I think this Kalanchoe adds the right amount of interest without being too fussy—the green and white are calm and soothing and I love the way it looks from above.
Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting. Visit her and discover what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday.
pbmGarden 
Nice idea as an alternative to a vase, Susie. The table is wonderful, your daughter is very talented.
Thanks Christina. She’s always created interesting work, starting as a young child. Our house would look much different without her furniture.
The plant is lovely, but the table is by far the star of the post. Talented daughter. 🙂
Thanks Judy. I love having a chance to share our daughter’s furniture today.
Susie I love that table…what a stunning design with the copper one of my favorite metals…and you chose the perfect plant to complement it ….I also have never seen a white Kalanchoe. I usually reach for the red ones and plunk them down in my garden as they need so little water. I;ll have to look for a white one in the future as I think I like it best.
Overall the table vase and plant is a wonderful post for this Monday!!
Thank you Donna! I’ve never tried to grow Kalanchoe outdoors but maybe I’ll try. I hadn’t bought one in ages but the white one really called out to me.
A great idea and a great setting. Well done.
Thanks John! We love the table and I’m really enjoying the Kalanchoe too.
OK, now I know what Kalanchoe looks like. I can see it makes a good cut flower.
I’d never thought to cut the flowers but why not? Think I’ll give that a try.
What a wonderful table! I’m impressed by both the thought that went into the design and the beauty of the construction. Debra Lee Baldwin, a succulent guru based in California, has called those Kalanchoe “supermarket succulents” but she uses them, as do I – they bloom for a long time and come back reliably after being cut back.
Thanks for mentioning this succulent guru–I’m going to check her out. I think I only see Kalanchoe at the grocery, in fact. Good to know they can be cut–I’ll try that. Thanks!
Absolutely – calm and soothing, and cool and fresh for summer too. Good idea to use a house plant, and I do like these Kalanchoe. My neighbour always has these in his window and has had a white one for the first time over the last few weeks! I think that table is such a great idea too… another treasure from that talented daughter of yours!
Interesting coincidence your neighbor has a white Kalanchoe recently too. My daughter’s not making furniture any longer so I’m lucky to have the pieces she created.
I wouldn’t have guessed it was a kalanchoe at first – unusual in white, like you say. And everyone has already said, your daughter has designed some lovely things – and the table is great for highlighting a vase or pot in the centre!
Thanks Cathy. Maybe someday I’ll try a cut arrangement inset into the table. That would make an interesting challenge. As always, thanks for hosting.
A lovely table, what a clever daughter. I have never seen Kalanchoe in white. I have a red one which I have had for years. The trouble is that each year the flowers grow on ever longer stems, I don’ t know why. I much prefer it nice and compact like yours.
Chloris, I didn’t know how the flowers progress on increasingly longer stems. I’ve only had two or three of these and sort of used them as throwaway plants once the flowering was done, because i’m not much for fussing over houseplants. Someone suggested the flowers come back well after being cut so maybe you could try shearing it a bit in a test spot.
What a stunning table, the Kalanchoe is perfect for it, as it doesn’t detract from the beauty of the table itself. What a talented daughter you have.
Thanks Janet. We admire our daughter’s work and are happy others value it also. All of her work is rather clean and modern.
Hello Susie, I’ve never seen a white Kalanchoe before but I do think it is much nicer than the reds and oranges that we usually see here. And what a wonderful table – a lovely Mother’s Day gift indeed. I agree with Janet, your daughter is clearly very talented.
Don’t know how long white Kalanchoes have been around but it seems I’m not the only one who is just seeing this color. Yes, keeping the daughter and the table!
Lovely table indeed and it fits the “vase” perfectly.
Thanks Annette.