Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Paddle Plant (Flapjacks) (Kalanchoe luciae)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Paddle plant, Flapjacks, Flapjack plant, Paddle-leaf kalanchoe, Desert cabbage, Dog tongue.

More about paddle plant (flapjacks)

About Paddle Plant (Flapjacks)

Kalanchoe luciae · also called Paddle plant, Flapjacks · houseplant

Kalanchoe luciae is a striking rosette succulent with rounded, paddle-shaped leaves that blush red at the edges in bright light. It needs lots of sun, fast-draining soil, and sparing water. Easy and forgiving, but ASPCA-listed toxic to cats and dogs, so keep it out of pets' reach.

Cold limit: USDA USDA zones 10a-11b (hardy to roughly -1 C / 30 F; protect from frost) (18-24 C)

Watch for — Whitish leaf coating disturbed: The pale, powdery farina (natural wax bloom) on the leaves is protective and does not grow back once rubbed off. Handle the plant by the base and avoid wiping or misting the foliage so it keeps its frosted, colourful look.

What paddle plant (flapjacks)'s hardiness rating actually means

Yes — paddle plant (flapjacks) is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H7 and USDA USDA zones 10a-11b (hardy to roughly -1 C / 30 F; protect from frost), it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. Its RHS rating of H7 means: Hardy in the severest European continental winters. On the US scale that maps to USDA USDA zones 10a-11b (hardy to roughly -1 C / 30 F; protect from frost) — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly below about −20 °C. Paddle Plant (Flapjacks) is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

Concretely, for paddle plant (flapjacks) as it gets too cold:

It tolerates winter lows to about −20 °C once established.
Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root.
First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.

Can paddle plant (flapjacks) go outside or overwinter — and where?

Plant it out within USDA USDA zones 10a-11b (hardy to roughly -1 C / 30 F; protect from frost) and it overwinters with little or no help.
It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy.
The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when paddle plant (flapjacks) can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H7 figure above.

Paddle Plant (Flapjacks) hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is paddle plant (flapjacks) cold hardy?

Yes — paddle plant (flapjacks) is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H7 and USDA USDA zones 10a-11b (hardy to roughly -1 C / 30 F; protect from frost), it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. An outdoor plant. Paddle Plant (Flapjacks) is hardy across USDA USDA zones 10a-11b (hardy to roughly -1 C / 30 F; protect from frost); it belongs in the ground or a frost-proof container, not on a windowsill, and many types actively need a cold winter to perform.

What is the minimum temperature paddle plant (flapjacks) can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly below about −20 °C. Paddle Plant (Flapjacks) is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

What hardiness zone is paddle plant (flapjacks)?

Paddle Plant (Flapjacks) is rated USDA USDA zones 10a-11b (hardy to roughly -1 C / 30 F; protect from frost) and RHS H7 — Hardy in the severest European continental winters.

Can paddle plant (flapjacks) survive winter outside?

Plant it out within USDA USDA zones 10a-11b (hardy to roughly -1 C / 30 F; protect from frost) and it overwinters with little or no help. It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy. The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

What happens to paddle plant (flapjacks) below its minimum temperature?

It tolerates winter lows to about −20 °C once established. Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root. First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.