Succulent senecios are a diverse group of trailing, upright, and ground-cover plants, including String of Pearls, Blue Chalksticks, and Cocoon Plant.
Walk into any garden center and you’ll find these plants labeled Senecio, but many popular ones have been reclassified into genera like Curio and Kleinia. Knowing both old and new names helps you find exactly the plant you want. Here are the 14 succulent senecios you’ll actually see in the trade, grouped by how they grow.
Trailing And Cascading Senecio Succulents
These hanging-basket favorites spill over container edges and are the most recognizable group, ideal for beginners.
- String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus / Curio rowleyanus): The classic bead-like trailer with round, pea-sized leaves.
- String of Bananas (Senecio radicans / Curio radicans): Curved, banana-shaped leaves that grow faster and tolerate more water than pearls.
- String of Dolphins (Senecio peregrinus / Curio × peregrinus): A hybrid with leaves resembling leaping dolphins.
- String of Tears (Senecio herreianus): Teardrop leaves with visible windows and a more open growth habit than pearls.
- String of Lemons (Senecio citriformis): Lemon-shaped leaves that trail nicely in hanging pots.
- String of Watermelons: A retail name often used for Senecio herreianus or similar window-leaf types.
- Trailing Jade (Senecio jacobsenii / Kleinia petraea): Flattened, paddle-shaped leaves that root wherever they touch soil.
Upright And Shrubby Senecios
These grow as small shrubs or rosettes, adding vertical interest to containers and arrangements.
- Cocoon Plant (Senecio haworthii): Cylindrical leaves covered in white woolly fuzz—one of the most striking silver succulents.
- Vertical Leaf Senecio (Senecio crassissimus): Flattened, purple-edged leaves stacked upright like steps.
- Candle Plant (Senecio articulatus): Segmented, sausage-like stems that look like a string of candles.
- Spear Head (Senecio kleiniiformis): Soft, triangular leaves that trail then grow upright with age.
- Succulent Bush Senecio (Senecio barbertonicus): A shrubby species with slender, finger-like leaves that tolerates pruning well.
- Woolly Senecio (Senecio scaposus): Silver finger-like leaves with a fuzzy coating that rubs off if touched too much.
Ground-Cover And Blue Senecios
These spreading types are workhorses of dry landscaping and rock gardens, forming dense mats that suppress weeds.
- Blue Chalksticks (Senecio mandraliscae / Curio repens): Powdery blue, chalk-like finger leaves that grow low and spread wide.
- Dwarf Blue Chalksticks (Senecio serpens): A smaller, more compact version, ideal for tight spaces and containers.
Retailers often mix up these two blue species, plus Senecio vitalis and Curio repens. If exact species matters, the plant tag is your best guide—all grow similarly and look close enough that most gardeners won’t care.
| Common Name | Old Name | Current Name |
|---|---|---|
| String of Pearls | Senecio rowleyanus | Curio rowleyanus |
| String of Bananas | Senecio radicans | Curio radicans |
| String of Dolphins | Senecio peregrinus | Curio × peregrinus |
| Blue Chalksticks | Senecio mandraliscae | Curio repens |
| Trailing Jade | Senecio jacobsenii | Kleinia petraea |
Caring For Senecio Succulents, Regardless Of Type
The care routine barely changes across this group. All succulent senecios want bright light, well-draining soil, and infrequent watering. Give them a south- or west-facing window indoors, or full sun to part shade outdoors. Use a gritty cactus mix or add perlite to regular potting soil. Water deeply only when soil is completely dry—every 1 to 2 weeks in summer and much less in winter. These plants show thirst clearly: pearls wrinkle, bananas soften, and blue chalksticks lose firmness.
Most are native to southern Africa, with Senecio crassissimus from Madagascar and Trailing Jade also found in Tanzania and Kenya. They handle heat and drought but dislike soggy roots above all. For the best specimens to start your collection, see our roundup of the best senecio succulent plant options.
One warning: don’t confuse these ornamentals with common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) or ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)—weedy, non-succulent relatives. Succulent types all share thick, fleshy leaves and a compact growth habit, making them unmistakable once seen side by side.
FAQs
Why do plant tags sometimes show a different name than the one I know?
Horticultural names change as botanists refine relationships. Plants long sold as Senecio rowleyanus and Senecio radicans are now officially Curio species, while Senecio jacobsenii moved to Kleinia. Nurseries often keep familiar old names to avoid confusing customers.
Which senecio succulent is easiest for a beginner?
String of Bananas is the most forgiving trailer—it grows faster than Pearls, tolerates more water, and recovers well from neglect. Among upright types, Succulent Bush Senecio is tough, while Cocoon Plant needs the most careful watering to avoid rot.
Are blue chalksticks and dwarf blue chalksticks the same plant?
They’re close relatives but distinct species. Blue Chalksticks (Senecio mandraliscae / Curio repens) has longer, thicker fingers and spreads wider. Dwarf Blue Chalksticks (Senecio serpens) stays smaller and more compact. Retailers frequently mislabel them, so check the tag if size matters.
References & Sources
- Wikipedia — List of Senecio species. “List of Senecio species.” Documents the scale of the genus and current accepted names.
- Wikipedia — Senecio. “Senecio.” Describes genus characteristics and reclassification of popular species into Curio and Kleinia.
- North Carolina State Extension. “Senecio.” Provides horticultural guidance on growing succulent senecios in containers and landscapes.