Kleinia Cephalophora

Family

Asteraceae

Origin

Southern Africa

Description

Senecio cephalophorus is a distinct succulent with paddle-shaped, greyish-green leaves growing in rosettes on well-branching clumps. This variety will quickly form offsets. Displays fiery, reddish-orange pom-pom flowers which provide blazing color and are loved by butterflies.

Environment

Senecio grows in full sun to part shade but thrives better in hot sunny positions and will tolerate coastal conditions, but prefers light shade in the summer. 

It requires a very free draining soil used for cacti and other succulents, mildly acidic to mildly alkaline but is very tolerant of poor soils. 

Fertilizer is seldom a necessity for these plants as the soil is rocky and desolate in their natural habitat. It needs moderate water during from spring to autumn, keeps rather dry in winter or the plants may rot at the base. The plant will tolerate being dried out much more than other types of succulents. The converse is also true, the plant will suffer greatly from over watering. These species do tend to get sort of leggy, which is

Landscape Use

Suitable for Hanging Container, Rock Garden & Xeriscaping