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Senecio radicans
Ideally placed in partial shade, can tolerate a sunny site.
Always water a few days after the substrate has dried out. In winter, limit watering.
It can tolerate -1.1 °C in the short term. However, the plant is not hardy.
The leaves have an interesting banana-like shape. This has earned the plant the nickname String of Bananas.
Senecio radicans, formerly known as Curio radicans or Kleinia radicans, is a succulent plant native to the rocky desert areas of the Little Karoo in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It owes its unusual appearance to its nicknames String of Bananas or String of Fishhooks. The plant's long, slender stems creep and root along their length, eventually forming cascades of thick, banana-like leaves with translucent lines. From this characteristic, it was also given the name "radicans" which means "rooting" in Latin.
The leaves are up to 3 cm long and their green-blue colour with contrasting white lines gives the plant an ornamental appearance. The succulent is excellent in hanging containers where its slender stems, up to 90 cm long, stand out. The succulent forms short and tough aerial roots.
Tiny white flowers with a cinnamon scent usually appear in late winter or early spring, adding to the plant's charm.
It is important to note that Senecio radicans is a mildly toxic plant. Therefore, extra care must be taken when growing it, especially in homes with children, pets or livestock. It is advisable to wash hands thoroughly after handling the plant. It grows quite quickly and is particularly suited to hanging containers. In addition to being drought-resistant, it is also relatively undemanding. The interesting shape of the leaves reminds of a banana.