Mother-of-thousands (Kalanchoe daigremontiana) is native to southwest Madagascar. It is also called Devil's Backbone, Alligator Plant,or Mexican Hat Plant. This odd succulent is a member of the Crassulaceae family of plants. Mother-of-thousands blooms in late winter. The inflorescence is a at the top of the plant. Seen from above, which is usual since the plant only grows two to three feet, the inflorescence is not very interesting. But if you look up at the pinkish-orange flowers hang from the panicle; the delicate beauty can be appreciated. Mother-of-thousands have mottled serrate leaves, borne in pairs along the stem. The common name refers to the plant's vivipary; it produces adventitious plantlets in the notches along the leaf edges. When each plantlet can survive on its own, it will drop from the parent. Care of the Mother-of-Thousands is easy. Provide very bright light or full sun and water when the soil is dry.

Upright stout short trunks support thick upturned pearly surfaced fleshy leaves (so wide as to be nearly round in outline), each heavily ringed by a margin of cute baby plantlets–every kid needs one. Perhaps the most architecturally pleasing of this category as the foliage is both very compact and very heavily laden with offspring.