Overview
Senecio pulcher is a perennial in the genus Senecio, part of the Asteraceae family. Senecio pulcher grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates well-drained soils. Suggested uses include ornamental. It is native to South America.
About the genus
Senecio is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae) that includes groundsels and some ragworts. Variously circumscribed taxonomically, the genus Senecio is one of the largest genera of flowering plants. Plants of the World Online currently accepts 1482 species.
Wikipedia contributors, "Senecio", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Senecio
In the garden
Senecio pulcher (Tyerman's groundsel) is a perennial from South America valued primarily as an ornamental for its showy, radiate flower heads with long red-purple rays and a yellow centre. In cultivation it behaves as a summer-flowering herbaceous perennial and will produce its blooms from June to September in the UK. Grow it where it receives full sun or partial shade and where soil remains moist but drains freely; overly dry conditions will reduce flowering. Choose a site with well-drained soil that still holds moisture through the growing season rather than a freely drying, sandy bed. Establish plants in spring and water through dry spells while roots become established. Routine feeding in spring with a balanced fertiliser encourages robust flowering without excessive leafy growth. Use Tyerman's groundsel in mixed perennial borders, near ponds or damp gravel areas, or at the back of a summer border where its upright flowerheads can be seen above lower companions. Its combination of red-purple ray florets and yellow centres is most conspicuous during the June–September flowering window and provides late-summer colour along sheltered, moisture-retentive planting sites.
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Senecio
- Sunlight
- full sun, partial shade
- Soil type
- well-drained
- Soil moisture
- moist
Plant details
Senecio pulcher size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- perennial
- Suggested uses
- ornamental
- Native to
- South America
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Senecio pulcher
- Cultivation
- Prefers moist, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. Suitable for garden borders and rockeries.
- Pruning
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage further blooming.
- Propagation
- Seed, cuttings
Frequently asked questions
How do I grow Senecio pulcher?
Prefers moist, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. Suitable for garden borders and rockeries.
Where is the best place to plant Senecio pulcher?
Senecio pulcher prefers full sun and partial shade.
What soil does Senecio pulcher need?
Senecio pulcher grows best in well-drained soil. Aim for soil that stays moist.
How do I prune Senecio pulcher?
Deadhead spent flowers to encourage further blooming.
How do I propagate Senecio pulcher?
Seed, cuttings.
From the Fenn Plants journal
- Notes on DaffodilsWhen to plant daffodil bulbs in the UK, how deep, how to naturalise them in grass, why daffodils stop flowering (“blindness”), and why you should never mix cut daffodils with other flowers.
- Keeping Your NerveHow to garden through a heatwave — the best time to water, why deep soaks beat daily sprinkles, caring for pots and vulnerable plants, and why you can let the lawn go brown.
- Made to LastHow to clean, store and protect garden pots and planters — the frost-proof vs frost-resistant difference, winter care for terracotta and ceramic, and how to reuse a broken pot.
More in the Senecio genus
- Senecio cinerariaSilver Ragwort
- Senecio cineraria 'Hoar Frost'Hoar Frost Dusty Miller
- Senecio cineraria 'White Diamond'White Diamond Dusty Miller
- Senecio doronicumchamois ragwort
- Senecio smithiiMagellan ragwort
- Senecio tanguticus
- Senecio clivorum
- Senecio from Colombia