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Senecio crassissimus is often confused with:
Delosperma cooperi Delosperma cooperi
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Begonia cleopatrae Red and silver leaves with ciliate margins.
Curio rowleyanus Curio rowleyanus
Nerium oleander 'Hardy Pink' Flowers - Sept. 15 - Wake Co., NC

Lavender Steps Senecio crassissimus

Phonetic Spelling
sen-NEESH-shee-oh kras-SIS-sih-mus
This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Vertical Leaf Senecio has fleshy blue-green leaves with purple margins that are flat so they can change direction and never have a flat surface that faces the sun.  This rotation helps prevent the loss of moisture in hot environments.  This serves them well in the sweltering heat of Madagascar where they are endemic.  These flat leaves almost resemble propellers on a prop plane, thus another common name Propeller Plant.  

Growing as a perennial in zones 9a through 11b, it is not cold hardy in cooler zones, so must be grown in a container and brought in for the winter. Exposure to excessive cold temperatures will lead to a mushy plant.

They will be drought tolerant once established, however, good drainage is crucial.  Overwatering or allowing the plant to sit in wet conditions will cause the plant to become mushy and lose it rigidity.  Draining the soil before watering will alleviate this problem as well as allowing the roots to dehydrate before the next watering.  

They will be at their best when located in bright but indirect sunlight in a sandy soil.  In their perennial zones, growing season is in the winter, while they will remain dormant in the summer months.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Overwatering is a major issue for this plant.

 

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

More information on Senecio.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#heat tolerant#houseplant#drought tolerant#succulent#silver leaves#fleshy leaves#showy leaves#interiorscape#low maintenance#interesting leaves#blue-green leaves#contrast#unusual leaves#variegated#rock garden#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#container plant#wet soils intolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#heat tolerant#houseplant#drought tolerant#succulent#silver leaves#fleshy leaves#showy leaves#interiorscape#low maintenance#interesting leaves#blue-green leaves#contrast#unusual leaves#variegated#rock garden#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#container plant#wet soils intolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Senecio
    Species:
    crassissimus
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Houseplant
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Leaf Cutting
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Madagascar
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Easy to Grow
    Textural
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Houseplant
    Perennial
    Succulent
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    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
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    12 inches-3 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Radial
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Yellow daisy-like flowers appear on stalks up to 2' tall in mid to late summer until autumn.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Variegated
    Leaf Feel:
    Waxy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblong
    Obovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The fleshy, blue-green leaves are in a vertical position, flat, have pointed tips, and often have a vibrant purple outline and a waxy coating. They are simple and have to petiole, arranged alternately on the stems. Color fades in the shade.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Thick, erect and greenish-purple with leaf scars below
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Patio
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Heat
    Humidity
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Medium
    Poison Symptoms:
    Toxic if ingested.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Leaves