Senecio herreianus (String of Pearls, String of Beads)
Botanical Information
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Genus | Senecio |
| Species | herreianus |
| Category | Perennials, Tropicals |
| Origin | Southwestern Namibia and South Africa. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 12 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cool season proetection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H1b |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | 13 |
| Temperature (°F) | 55 |
| Growth | Medium |
| Flowering Period | June, July, August |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | A unique succulent due to the trailing stems and bulbous leaves. Flowers on tall, slender stems as white daisy-like blooms. |
| Shape | Drooping to weeping or pendulous. |
| Landscape | As a hanging potted plant or as a specimen. |
| Propagation | Seed or cuttings. |
| Cultivation | Plant in partial sun to partial shade in dry, well-draining sandy or loamy soils of any acidity. Allow soil to dry between waterings. |
| Pests | Scale and mealybugs, although very rare. |
| Notable Specimens | University of Alberta Botanic Garden, Devon, Alberta, Canada. Chelsea Physic Garden, London, United Kingdom. |
| Habitat | Grows beneath bushes in arid areas. Dry, inland environments. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Long, smooth, glabrous vine-like stems and branches. |
| Leaf Description | Rounded ovoid-shaped, slightly pinnate, pearl or bead-like leaves approximately 10 cm long and 5 - 7 cm wide that grow along vine-like branches. Leaves are not flat. |
| Flower Description | Brush-like blooms on long peduncles. |
| Colour Description | Medium green to bluish-green foliage. Purplish-brown stems and vines. Green peduncles. White-petaled blooms tipped with a dull purplish-brown. |
| Texture Description | Smooth and leathery. |
Photographs
A plant at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden, Devon, Alberta, Canada.
A plant growing at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden, Devon, Alberta, Canada.
Senecio herrainus, leaves. Chelsea Physic Garden, London, United Kingdom.
Senecio herrainus, form. Chelsea Physic Garden, London, United Kingdom.