Senecio Rowleyanus

One the most strangest succulents. Commonly called “string of pearls,” its botanical name is Senecio rowleyanus. It’s member of the giant genus Senecio which contains 1,250 species, not just succulents, but also common weeds (like groundsels), wildflowers (like ragworts) and even shrubs and small trees (such as Senecio cristobalensis).

 The spheres are modified leaves, and they grow on trailing stems that seem to go on forever.

The leaves are round to reduce the surface area exposed to the hot sun and dry air, thus minimizing the loss of precious water through evaporation.

In its natural habitat in southwestern Africa, the stems trail on the ground, rooting where they touch and forming dense mats. In cultivation, Senecio rowleyanus is almost always grown as a hanging plant to display the trailing stems and curious leaves to maximum effect.
Senecio rowleyanus is not fussy as long as it gets bright light and is kept on the dry side (it’s a succulent, after all). It’s not very hardy (zone 9), and even though it would probably survive outside in our winter, it does much better if it’s brought inside for the coldest months of the year.

Category:
Groundcovers
Cactus and Succulents

Height:
under 6 in. (15 cm)

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)

Sun Exposure:
Light Shade

Danger:
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested

Bloom Color:
White/Near White

Bloom Time:
Mid Fall
Late Fall/Early Winter
Mid Winter

Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Evergreen
Variegated
Blue-Green
Smooth-Textured

Other details:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping

Propagation Methods:
From herbaceous stem cuttings

Seed Collecting:
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds

Comments are welcome :-)