About
Senecio herreianus, the string of watermelons, is a trailing, succulent perennial with distinctive oval, glaucous-green beads with faint, translucent stripes and tiny, white daisy flowers in summer. An appealing and rewarding succulent for a sunny greenhouse bench, hanging basket, or conservatory.
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.