Senecio Macroglossus

The plant looks like an ivy at a distance, but the flowers are different, thus the epithet ‘flowering ivy.’ It is characterized by smooth branches that are thin and flexible, covered by triangular or five-point leaves.

Family:	Asteraceae/ Daisy
Genus:	Senecio
Scientific Name:	Senecio Macroglossus
Other Names:	Flowering Ivy, Natal Ivy, Climbing Senecio, or Wax Ivy.
Growth Season:	Spring to autumn
Preferred Temperature:	It does best in temperatures between 24 and 27oC (75-80oF) in the daytime and 13-18oC (55-66oF). Also, it is not frost-hardy; it can only withstand temperatures as low as 4oC (40oF) but not lower.
Hardiness Zone:	USDA Zone 10-11
Average Mature Height & Width:	It reaches an average maximum height of 2-3 meters, with a spread of about 16 inches.
Dormancy:	It dorms 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 Macroglossus Physical Characteristics

It is a twinning, evergreen herb. It doesn’t climb by tendrils but can climb with its slender, flexible branches. The plant’s leaves are triangular, and some have five points. They look like ivy leaves. These stems tend to creep on the ground, at which time they develop leaves on the nodes when they touch the ground. This plant’s leaves are its main attraction, and they are green and glossy.

When injured, this succulent produces a fresh-lemon smell, another reason you might want to keep the plant. It produces flowers throughout the year, but it flowers the most in summer. Its flowers are showy, salmon-yellow, and relatively large.

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Senecio Macroglossus Care

The plant is drought tolerant, which means it requires to be watered sparingly. Too much water in the soil means waterlogging, which can, in turn, 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 significantly determines whether your watering endeavor will succeed. It should be previous due to its high gravel content. The pot where you grow this succulent should have drainage holes to release excess water. It is advisable to feed this plant regularly during its growing season, at least once per month, with water-soluble fertilizers that contain medium to high hydrogen levels to encourage leaf growth. Such feeding invigorates the plant.

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

Richard from Succulent City

Senecio Macroglossus Growth

This plant is ideal for growth in succulent, Mediterranean, and container plants. 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, and spider mites. They aren’t a significant threat, but you must watch out to avoid infestation.

Before you leave …

You can see all plants from the Senecio genus on Succulent on this page. Or the previous/ next plant:

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