Curio radicans
| Light | Bright, indirect light; some direct sun tolerated with acclimatisation |
|---|---|
| Water | Soak thoroughly, then allow to dry out before watering again; reduce in winter |
| Soil | Free-draining succulent mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 10–11 |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings (very easy); layering of trailing stems |
| Toxicity | Mildly toxic if eaten; keep away from curious pets and children |
Curio radicans is a fast-growing trailing succulent from southern Africa, best known by the common name string of bananas for its glossy, curved, banana-shaped leaves strung along slender creeping stems. Formerly placed in the large genus Senecio, it is a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae) and is grown worldwide as an easy, vigorous hanging-basket plant. It belongs to the genus Curio, alongside the closely related string of pearls.
Description
Curio radicans produces long, thin, trailing or creeping stems that can reach a metre or more in a season under good conditions. The stems root readily where they touch soil, which is reflected in the species epithet radicans (“rooting”). Along them sit the distinctive leaves: fleshy, curved and pointed at both ends, resembling tiny green bananas or fish-hooks. Many leaves carry faint translucent “windows” — thin lines that let extra light into the leaf interior.
The plant may flower through much of the year, chiefly in autumn and winter, bearing small, brush-like flowers on short stalks. They are white to pale mauve, cluster into little pom-pom heads, and carry a sweet, faintly cinnamon-like scent. The flowers are modest compared with the foliage, and most growers keep the plant chiefly for its cascading habit.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to southern Africa, ranging from Namibia south through the Northern Cape, Western Cape and Eastern Cape of South Africa, and into Lesotho, where it grows in dry, rocky karroid veld. It typically forms matted colonies, spreading across the ground and over rocks — often under rock ledges or shrubs — and rooting as it goes. This scrambling, self-rooting habit makes it a tough survivor in habitat and a forgiving plant in cultivation.
Cultivation
Curio radicans is one of the easier trailing succulents and a good choice for beginners. Grow it in a free-draining succulent mix in a pot with drainage, ideally where the stems can spill over the edge of a shelf or hang from a basket. Give it bright light — a few hours of gentle direct sun, or a very bright indirect position — to keep the growth compact and the leaves plump; in too much shade the stems stretch and the spacing between leaves opens up.
Water using the “soak and dry” approach: wet the mix thoroughly, then let it dry out before watering again. The species is more forgiving of watering than its cousin string of pearls, but it still resents standing wet, which leads to rot. Cut watering back over winter while growth slows. See Watering and Repotting for general technique. Because the trailing stems grow quickly, an occasional trim keeps the plant full, and the trimmings root with almost no effort.
Propagation
Propagation could hardly be simpler. Lay a length of stem on the surface of barely moist mix, or tuck a few nodes just under the surface, and roots form at the nodes within a couple of weeks. Cuttings can also be laid across the top of an established pot to thicken it up. Because the stems root wherever they touch soil, layering happens almost on its own. Seed is rarely used by hobbyists when cuttings are this reliable. See Propagation — cuttings and Propagation — offsets for more detail.
Cultivars
A popular variegated form exists, marbled and streaked with cream and pink alongside the green. Variegated plants carry less chlorophyll, so they grow more slowly and need brighter (but not scorching) light to hold their colour and to avoid reverting to plain green. They are otherwise grown exactly as the standard plant.
Common problems
- Rot — the commonest cause of loss, almost always from overwatering or a mix that stays wet; stems turn mushy and translucent. Grow lean and let the mix dry out.
- Etiolation — in low light the stems stretch and the leaves sit far apart, losing the full, dense look. Move to brighter light.
- Shrivelled leaves — under-watering (or root loss from earlier rot) makes the “bananas” go soft and wrinkled; check the roots and resume normal watering.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the leaf axils) and the occasional aphid on new growth and flower stalks. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Curio — the genus overview
- Curio rowleyanus — string of pearls, a close relative
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — cuttings · Propagation — offsets · Repotting · Pests and diseases