5 Key Differences Between the Prolific Mother of Thousands and Mother of Millions: A Simple Succulent Comparison Guide

Mother of Thousands (Kalanchoe daigremontiana) and Mother of Millions (Bryophyllum proliferum) are both members of the Crassulaceae family of flowering plants. These plants are known for their ability to produce new plantlets on the edges of their leaves, which can be easily propagated and grown into new plants.

In this article, we will explore the unique characteristics of each plant, including their appearance and nicknames, and compare the differences in their leaf shape.


Mother of Thousands (Kalanchoe daigremontiana)

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Mother of thousands

Mother of Thousands, also known as Devil’s Backbone, Alligator Plant or Mexican Hat Plant, is a succulent native to Madagascar. It gets its name from the numerous plantlets that grow along the margins of its leaves, giving the appearance of “thousands” of new plants. These plantlets can easily break off and root in the surrounding soil, making this plant quite prolific in its growth.

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Compared to Mother of Millions, Mother of Thousands leaves are much wider and they are bright green in color. You can see why it gets its many nicknames.

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Mother of thousands

Mother of thousands vs mother of millions 1 mother of thousands
Green little plantlets with roots even while still attached to the mother leaf. (mot)

Mother of Millions (Bryophyllum proliferum)

Like Mother of thousands, Mother of millions is a succulent plant with fleshy, brownish spotted leaves. However, the leaves of this plant are tubular and thin, with smooth edges and a matte appearance.

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Mother of Millions, also known as Chandelier Plant, is a succulent native to Africa and Madagascar. It is closely related to Mother of Thousands and shares some similarities in appearance, such as its fleshy leaves and ability to produce plantlets. However, Mother of Millions differs in that its plantlets grow at the tips of its leaves, and it produces larger quantities of plantlets than Mother of Thousands.

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Comparison of Leaf Shape

One of the main differences between Mother of Thousands and Mother of Millions is the shape and size of their leaves. MOT has larger, broader leaves, while MOM has smaller, narrower leaves.

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Mother of millions kalanchoe mother of thousands
Mother of millions

Despite this difference in leaf shape, both Mother of Thousands and Mother of Millions are well known for their ability to produce new plantlets on the edges of their leaves. These plantlets can be easily propagated and grown into new plants, making both Mother of Thousands and Mother of Millions great choices for gardening enthusiasts.

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Mother of millions propagation mother of thousands
Mother of millions

Mother of Thousands (Kalanchoe daigremontiana) and Mother of Millions (Bryophyllum proliferum) are unique plants that are known for their ability to produce new plantlets on their leaves. While they have slightly different appearances due to the shape and size of their leaves, both plants can be easily propagated and grown into new plants.

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Whether you are an experienced gardener or just starting out, Mother of Thousands and Mother of Millions are definitely worth considering for your collection.

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Table: Key Differences between Mother of Thousands and Mother of Millions

CharacteristicMother of ThousandsMother of Millions
Latin NameKalanchoe daigremontianaBryophyllum spp.
Plantlet LocationAlong margins of leavesAt tips of leaves
ColorGreenSpotty brownish
Leaf ShapeBroad, rounderNarrow, pointed

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For more succulents that are hard to tell apart, click here.