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Senecio Senecio

Phonetic Spelling
sen-ess-ee-o
This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Senecio is in the daisy family and includes ragwort and groundsels. It contains over 1,000 species of flowering plants and contains both annuals and perennials from shrubs to trees to vines.  There are about 100 varieties that are considered succulents.  The widespread species range from noxious weeds to showy garden perennials. 

A sun-loving plant in cooler climates, shade should be provided in locations that experience hot and dry conditions.  Great for containers or as hanging plants that can be placed in the garden during the warmer months and brought indoors as the days become colder.  Place your indoor containers in bright indirect sunlight and outdoor plants in full sun.  They do best in a well-drained potting mix.  They are drought-tolerant, so watering should be done after allowing the roots to dry out completely.  Don't overwater.  Plants allowed to sit in water may experience mushy roots.

The long-lasting flowers bloom for up to a month.  However, it's the showy foliage that will catch your eye.  

Popular varieties that sold as houseplants are Blue Chalksticks and String of Pearls.

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems:  Some insects that may affect this plant are mealybugs and scale.  Cineraria leaf rust can be an issue on both the stems and foliage.

The sap from the plant can cause skin irritation.  Wear gloves to avoid direct contact.  Avoid locations where pets or children can access the plant, as ingestion can cause liver disease in animals.

Quick ID:

  • Variety of forms among species
  • Dense, silvery hairs on the leaves
  • Yellow, daisy-like flowers (heads of disk and rays)

 

VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
S. candicans 'Angel Wings', S. crassissimus, S. vulgaris
Tags:
#heat tolerant#houseplant#drought tolerant#shrub#succulent#frost tender#showy leaves#hanging baskets#herbaceous#herbaceous perennial#groundcover#dry soils tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#container plant#wet soils intolerant#hsc#hsc-s#perennial#accent
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
S. candicans 'Angel Wings', S. crassissimus, S. vulgaris
Tags:
#heat tolerant#houseplant#drought tolerant#shrub#succulent#frost tender#showy leaves#hanging baskets#herbaceous#herbaceous perennial#groundcover#dry soils tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#container plant#wet soils intolerant#hsc#hsc-s#perennial#accent
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Senecio
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Leaf Cutting
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    South Africa
    Wildlife Value:
    Some plants used by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (butterflies & moths) species as host plants
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Easy to Grow
    Textural
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Houseplant
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Succulent
    Habit/Form:
    Cascading
    Columnar
    Creeping
    Erect
    Horizontal
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Very Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Flower Shape:
    Radial
    Flower Petals:
    Bracts
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The clusters of flowers are yellow (rarely white or purple) in a head resembling a small sunflower. The flower clusters contain 10 to 22 small rayless flower heads.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Fleshy
    Velvety
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Oblong
    Orbicular
    Peltate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves of the succulent varieties are often lobed or divided with a variety of colors including green, blue and striped. There is also a variation in the leaf shapes, from rounded, saw-toothed to banana shaped. Some varieties are covered with smooth, fine hairs.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Hanging Baskets
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Pool/Hardscape
    Small Space
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Heat
    Problems:
    Contact Dermatitis
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Children
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Medium
    Poison Symptoms:
    Liver toxicity; skin irritation following contact.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Leaves