String of Beads (Senecio herreianus)

Description

Senecio herreianus, AKA the string-of-pearls or string-of-beads plant, is a trailing, succulent vine and one of the rising stars of social media sharing!
Looking just like a string of green beads, its perfect for hanging baskets or cascading from shelves – the String of Beads appreciates room to trail and is perfectly photogenic.
The pea-sized leaves (which allow for the storage of water while at the same time minimising water loss) are produced on trailing stems which can grow 60-90 cm (2-3 ft).  In its natural habitat, the stems trail on the ground, rooting where they touch and forming a dense mat.
Each rounded leaf has a thin band of dark green tissue on the side known as an 'epidermal window' which allows light to enter and irradiate the inside of the leaf, effectively increasing the area for photosynthesis – a clever plant indeed.
Senecio blooms during the summer with clusters of small white flowers with colourful stamens. The flowers last about a month and are said to smell like cinnamon and other spices to some people.
Easy to grow and low maintenance, like most succulents the string of pearls will tolerate infrequent watering and just a few hours of direct sunlight every day. Good soil drainage is essential though to prevent problems and we recommend that you use a cactus mix when potting.
Note Decorative pot in images is for display purposes only and is not supplied.