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Blue Toes Curio repens

Previously known as:

  • Cacalia repens
  • Kleinia repens
  • Senecio serpens
Phonetic Spelling
KUR-ree-oh REH-penz
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Blue chalksticks is a succulent herbaceous perennial native to the Cape Province of South Africa. It is a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae). It is a slow-growing, creeping shrub that is found in the sandy cliffs and rocky crevices of its native habitat. This plant is commonly used as a groundcover because of its mat-like habit, and it may also be used as a houseplant. The genus name, Curio, is derived from the Latin word, curiosus, which means "object of interest." The specific epithet, repens, is Latin and means "crawling" or "creeping," and references the plant's habit.

The plant can be grown in full sun to partial shade. In areas of intense heat, partial shade is better tolerated. It requires a well-drained succulent potting medium, if used as a houseplant. If planted outdoors in a warm climate, it will need coarse sand or perlite to provide adequate drainage. It is intolerant to overwatering, and it is best to allow the soil or potting medium to dry out between waterings. It is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 9b to 12. The plant is intolerant to frost or freezing temperatures. It best propagated by stem cuttings; however, it may also be propagated by seeds. The plant is drought-, heat-, and fire-resistant.

Blue chalksticks can grow up to 6 to 8 inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. It has a branching base, suckering roots, and roots along the stems. The stems have a prostrate habit and bear fleshy, silvery-bluish green, cylindrical leaves that measure 0.75 to 1.25 inches long. Its flowers bloom in the summer and through the fall. They are tiny and white blooms that appear in corymbs. The fruit is an achene with a feathery pappus that is dispersed by the wind.

This plant is easy to grow and maintain. Consider adding this ornamental plant to your home. Be aware that the plant is toxic and should be kept out of the reach of children and pets.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Monitor of aphids, scale, spider mites, and whiteflies. Overwatering and poor drainage can cause root rot.  If underwatered, the plant will wilt and shrivel. Etiolation (the stems stretching for light) can result from the lack of sunlight.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Trident Blue' (C. repens x C. talinoides)
    lance-shaped, powdery blue green leaves with pale yellow flowers in corymbs
'Trident Blue' (C. repens x C. talinoides)
Tags:
#houseplant#drought tolerant#succulent#easy to grow#slow growing#salt tolerant#low maintenance#rabbit resistant#interesting leaves#deer resistant#groundcover#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for children#problem for horses#container plant#problem for cattle#easy to grow houseplant#poisonous if ingested#full sun#prostrate#accent
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Trident Blue' (C. repens x C. talinoides)
    lance-shaped, powdery blue green leaves with pale yellow flowers in corymbs
'Trident Blue' (C. repens x C. talinoides)
Tags:
#houseplant#drought tolerant#succulent#easy to grow#slow growing#salt tolerant#low maintenance#rabbit resistant#interesting leaves#deer resistant#groundcover#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for children#problem for horses#container plant#problem for cattle#easy to grow houseplant#poisonous if ingested#full sun#prostrate#accent
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Curio
    Species:
    repens
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Cape Provinces, South Africa
    Distribution:
    Native: Cape Provinces. Introduced: Angola, Azores, and New Zealand South
    Play Value:
    Easy to Grow
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Houseplant
    Succulent
    Habit/Form:
    Creeping
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • 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:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is an achene. They will dry and open to release its seeds. Each seed has feather white pappus. The seeds are dispersed by the wind.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The blooms are tiny disk flowers that are arranged into a corymb.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Linear
    Obovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves are silvery bluish-green, fleshy, cylindrical, and erect with a translucent central vein. The leaf blade margin is entire, and the leaf shape is somewhat rounded and linear to elliptic or linear to obovate. The leaf measurement is about 0.75 to 1.25 inches long and 0.25 to 0.5 inch wide.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    The stems are smooth, hairless, flaccid, tapering, and initially green and become gray in color. The leaves are appear crowded near the ends of the branches. Mature stems are covered with leaf scars.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Landscape Theme:
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Heat
    Rabbits
    Salt
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Children
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Toxic if ingested by humans, pets, or livestock: loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. If large amounts are ingested, it can cause irreversible liver disease.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Sap/Juice
    Seeds
    Stems