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Senecio ficoides
A semi-shade or sunny habitat is ideal for Senecio.
Always water a few days after the substrate has dried out. In winter, limit watering.
It can tolerate temperatures down to -6.7 °C in the short term. However, the plant is not hardy.
The blue colour of the plant is due to the wax layer, which also protects it from strong sunlight.
Senecio ficoides, also known as Curio ficoides or Kleinia ficoides, is a succulent plant with blue-green leaves. It is native to South Africa and is known for its waxy coating on its leaves, which gives it a blue colour and protects it from strong sunlight. Hence its nickname Big Blue Chalk Sticks. The name ficoides, in turn, refers to the similarity with the Aizoaceae family (ficus - fig and oides - having the appearance).
Senecio ficoides has elongated leaves that are distinctly pointed and bluish to grey-green. The blue colour is given by a waxy coating that is almost white. The plating is easily rubbed off by careless handling and takes a long time to recover. Not only the leaves are leathery, but also the stems. The stem grows solitary for a long time - upright, up to a height of 40 cm. In nature, it can reach a height of up to one metre.
The flowers of Senecio ficoides are white and rarely appear at the ends of the branches, usually flowering from autumn to winter.
This Senecio grows relatively quickly in height. If we want to shorten the plant or force it to branch, we can prune it. Thanks to its decorative blue leaves and its easy-to-grow habit, it will find a place in any collection and is also suitable for succulent gardens.