Senecio stapeliiformis
| Light | Bright light to a little direct sun; will take more sun than most soft succulents |
|---|---|
| Water | Water when the soil dries; reduce sharply in winter to avoid rot |
| Soil | Fast-draining gritty succulent mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 10–11 |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings (very easy); also from underground rhizomes |
| Toxicity | Considered toxic if eaten; keep away from pets and children |
Senecio stapeliiformis — widely sold as the pickle plant — is a creeping South African succulent grown for its striking, pencil-thick stems. The upright, angular stems are marked with pale longitudinal stripes and lines of small, soft, tooth-like tubercles, and in season they are topped by solitary, brush-shaped flowers in vivid red-orange. It belongs to the genus Kleinia, into which many of the shrubby and stem-succulent former Senecio species are now placed, and is sometimes catalogued under the name Kleinia stapeliiformis.
Description
Senecio stapeliiformis produces erect, cylindrical stems that are usually a centimetre or two thick and reach roughly 20–30 cm tall, though they can be taller in comfortable conditions. Each stem is bluntly angled into several ribs and carries a beautiful pattern of pale greyish-green to whitish stripes running lengthways, overlaid with faint purplish mottling — a look that gives the plant its "candy cane" nickname. Along the ridges sit rows of small, soft, spine-tipped tubercles that are harmless to the touch.
The stems arise at intervals from a spreading underground rhizome, so a happy plant slowly wanders across the pot and sends up new shoots some distance from the original. In its main flowering flush the plant lifts a long, bare flower stalk topped by a single cylindrical flower head of densely packed disc florets, most often a bright red to orange-scarlet that stands out dramatically against the cool-toned stems.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to South Africa, where it grows in dry, rocky scrub and open ground, often creeping among stones and low vegetation that shade its roots. Like many stem succulents from these habitats it is adapted to seasonal drought, storing water in its thick stems and retreating to its underground rhizome when conditions turn harsh.
Cultivation
The pickle plant is one of the easier and more forgiving succulents, which has made it a long-time favourite windowsill plant. Grow it in a very free-draining, gritty mix and give it bright light; unlike many soft-leaved succulents it will happily take some direct sun, which keeps the stems compact and brings out the strongest striping. In too little light the stems stretch, thin out and lean toward the window.
Water thoroughly once the soil has dried, then let it dry again — the stems tolerate a fair amount of neglect, and overwatering is by far the commonest way to lose the plant. Cut watering back sharply in winter and keep it on the dry side while it rests. Protect it from frost; it is a tender plant best kept above freezing. Because it spreads by rhizome and creeps around the pot, it appreciates repotting every year or two into fresh mix and a slightly larger container. See Watering for general technique.
Propagation
Propagation could hardly be simpler. Take a stem cutting, let the cut end callous over for a few days, and set it in barely moist gritty mix, where it roots readily. Established clumps can also be lifted and divided, since each stem is connected to the spreading rhizome and often already carries roots of its own — an easy form of offset division. Seed is rarely needed given how freely the plant grows from pieces.
Common problems
- Rot — soft, blackening or collapsing stems, almost always from overwatering or a slow-draining mix, especially in cool weather.
- Etiolation — stems that stretch tall, go thin and pale, and flop over indicate too little light; move the plant somewhere brighter.
- Pests — mealybugs (white cottony fluff tucked between stems and at the base) and the occasional aphid on flower stalks are the usual visitors; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Kleinia — the genus overview
- Propagation - cuttings · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Pests and diseases