What is the difference between the latest Longevity Begonia and Kalanchoe?

Both Longevity Begonia and Kalanchoe have "longevity" in their names, which carries a very auspicious meaning. Both plants are herbaceous, both have reddish flowers, and they look very similar, so many people easily confuse them. So, could these two names refer to the same flower? Is Longevity Begonia just another name for Kalanchoe? If not, what is the difference between them? Qinnong Web will distinguish these two plants for everyone here.

1. Is Longevity Begonia the same as Kalanchoe?

Of course not. Kalanchoe actually refers to Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, a succulent herbaceous plant. It was introduced from Africa to Europe by Germans in the early years, and only in modern times was it widely cultivated in Europe. Longevity Begonia, also known as Rhodiola, is a very good potted ornamental flower.

2. The difference between Longevity Begonia and Kalanchoe

Now that we know Kalanchoe and Longevity Begonia are not the same flower, what is the difference between them? Below, Qinnong Web will explain from several aspects how to distinguish these two flowers.

1. Flowers

If you only look at color, it is very difficult to distinguish the two, because both have very rich colors, and there are many cultivated varieties, so they are not easy to tell apart. But if you look at their form, the two are very easy to distinguish.

a. The flowers of Kalanchoe are not double-petaled; they look like individual little blooms, very small and delicate.

b. Longevity Begonia is exactly the opposite. Its flowers are double-petaled, with petals overlapping one another, making it look very full.

2. Leaves

Actually, Kalanchoe and Longevity Begonia are not the same type of plant at all, so the differences in their leaves are great and very obvious. The leaves of both Kalanchoe and Longevity Begonia do not fall off during most seasons of the year, so they are also very easy to tell apart.

a. Kalanchoe is a succulent plant, so its leaves are fleshy and rather long-oval in shape, very dark in color, with a waxy sheen, and a faint red edge around the margin.

b. Longevity Begonia is not a succulent herbaceous plant, so its leaves are not fleshy, but instead grow in clusters.

3. Form

a. Because the varieties are different, there will naturally be huge differences in their form. First, Kalanchoe is a succulent plant, so the plant is relatively short, generally 10-30 cm in height.

b. Longevity Begonia, on the other hand, is a bit taller; it can generally grow to 20-40 cm. Although the difference between the two is not great, when placed together it can still be clearly felt.

4. Blooming period

This point is more related to time when judging, so it is discussed last. First, both plants have the word "longevity" in their names, which proves that their blooming period is very long, so this point cannot be used to distinguish them. However, the two do not bloom in the same months, and this can be used to tell them apart. Kalanchoe generally blooms from January to April, while Longevity Begonia is clearly one month later, which also makes them easy to distinguish.

The above is what Qinnong Web has brought you regarding the difference between Kalanchoe and Longevity Begonia. After reading Qinnong Web's introduction, do you not think these two flowers are as hard to distinguish as you imagined?