Senecio Jacobsenii

This plant is a native of Eastern Africa, especially Kenya, and Tanzania, where it occurs in nature, but it is also grown near hoses as an ornamental plant. This succulent has smooth leaves, and it is a creeper.

Family:	Asteraceae/ Daisy.
Genus:	Senecio.
Scientific Name:	Senecio Jacobsenii.
Other Names:	The Trailing Jade, Weeping Jade, Klenia Petraea, Natoniopsis Petraea.
Growth Season:	Spring to autumn.
Preferred Temperature:	It does best in temperatures between 15 and 30oC (59-86oF) in day time and 13-18oC (55-66oF). Also, it is moderately frost-hardy and can withstand temperatures as low as -1.1oC (30oF) but not lower.
Hardiness Zone:	USDA Zone 10a-11b.
Average Mature Height & Width:	It is a trailing plant whose stem can go as far as 4 ft. The plant usually rises about 10cm from the ground.
Dormancy:	It goes dormant in winter when the cold causes growth hormones to stop working.
Toxicity:	When ingested, every part of this plant is toxic to humans and pets.

Senecio Jacobsenii Physical Characteristics

It is characterized by a fleshy stem that has few branches. This stem is either trailing or procumbent. It is cylindrical and can have a diameter of between ½ and 1 cm. Senecio Jacobsenii leaves are fixed and immobile because they have no leaf stalks. They are opposite each other. Also, they erect or lay parallel to the stem so that the one lower on the stem overlaps the one ahead of it, like roofing shingles. They are more pointed at the base and thick smooth. They are average 6.6 cm long and 2.5 cm thick. Though green, they can also acquire a greenish-pink or greenish-maroon hue. Also, they turn bluish-purple in winter.

Senecio Jacobsenii produces branching inflorescence. It rises to about 40cm and can have 3-5 branches. Each branch produces one flower head at the end. The flower heads themselves are tiny, with a disk-like shape.

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Senecio Jacobsenii Care

The plant is drought tolerant, which means it requires to be watered sparingly. Too much water in the soil means waterlogging, which can cause root rot. You should water it only during its growing seasons and ensure water from a previous drink is exhausted before watering next.

The substrate on which you grow this plant is a major determinant of whether your watering endeavor will succeed. It should be pervious, due to its high gravel content. The pot where you grow this succulent should have drainage holes to release excess water.

Avoid overhead watering; its creeping habit means you will get the leaves wet, predisposing it to leaf rot. It is advisable to feed this plant regularly during its growing season, at least once monthly, with water-soluble fertilizers containing medium hydrogen levels. Such feeding invigorates the plant.

DO YOU KNOW? Caring (propagating, pruning/trimming, beheading, watering, …) is a set of skills that is widely applicable to succulents. Read the in-depth guide here >>

Richard Miller – Succulent City

Senecio Jacobsenii Growth

This plant is ideal for growth in succulent, Mediterranean, and container plants, especially hanging baskets. You propagate it cuttings or division since it has multiple stems. The division produces established plants faster than cuttings.

Follow the usual steps for propagating succulents using cuttings during the process. If you grow this plant in a pot, it will probably be from a hanging basket. Repotting is necessary every time it doubles in size.

It is vulnerable to mealybugs, scale insects, spider mites and water-related fungal infections such as root rot and fungal leaf rot.