About

Senecio cineraria, the silver ragwort, is a white-woolly, evergreen subshrub to 60 cm producing deeply and irregularly lobed leaves and yellow daisy flowers in summer. Widely used in bedding schemes for its remarkable silver foliage. A rewarding foliage plant for a sunny, well-drained border or container.

About the genus

Senecio, the ragworts and groundsels, are a large and diverse genus of annuals, biennials, perennials, shrubs and climbers producing alternate, often lobed or dissected leaves and clusters of daisy-like, usually yellow or white flowers. Includes important ornamental, succulent and medicinal plants.

Plant details

Suggested usesRock gardens, troughs, green roofs, wall crevices, containers. Excellent low-maintenance ground cover.

Care notes

CultivationFull sun in very well-drained, gritty soil. Thrives in poor, thin soils. Extremely drought-tolerant once established.
PruningRemove spent flower stems. No other pruning needed � the colony self-maintains.
PropagationDetach offsets and replant. Extremely easy to propagate.
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free. Vine weevil may occasionally affect container plants.
Disease resistanceRot in waterlogged soil. Ensure sharp drainage, especially in winter.