Vertical Leaf Senecio

Family

Asteraceae

Origin

Southern Africa

Description

Senecio Crassissimus, colloquially known as Vertical leaf Senecio or Propeller plant is an erect evergreen subshrub up to 24 inches tall and up to 18 inches wide, with thick, purple stems, holding stiff flattened 2 inches long, waxy, silver-grey, obovate leaves, with vivid purple margins, facing outwards. In winter the inflorescence rises from the stem tips up to 2 feet, bearing an open-branched head of bright yellow daisy flowers. Thick erect, stems produce bright yellow daisy-like flowers at the tips in mid-summer to autumn. The large leaves looking as if turned on the edge are the most distinctive feature.

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