Senecio is in the daisy family and includes ragwort and groundsels. It contains over 1,000 species of flowering plants and contains both annuals and perennials from shrubs to trees to vines. There are about 100 varieties that are considered succulents. The widespread species range from noxious weeds to showy garden perennials. A sun-loving plant in cooler climates, shade should be provided in locations that experience hot and dry conditions. Great for containers or as hanging plants that can be placed in the garden during the warmer months and brought indoors as the days become colder. Place your indoor containers in bright indirect sunlight and outdoor plants in full sun. They do best in a well-drained potting mix. They are drought-tolerant, so watering should be done after allowing the roots to dry out completely. Don't overwater. Plants allowed to sit in water may experience mushy roots. The long-lasting flowers bloom for up to a month. However, it's the showy foliage that will catch your eye. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Some insects that may affect this plant are mealybugs and scale. Cineraria leaf rust can be an issue on both the stems and foliage. The sap from the plant can cause skin irritation. Wear gloves to avoid direct contact. Avoid locations where pets or children can access the plant, as ingestion can cause liver disease in animals. Quick ID: Variety of forms among species Dense, silvery hairs on the leaves Yellow, daisy-like flowers (heads of disk and rays) VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti," a plant identification course created in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
The leaves of the succulent varieties are often lobed or divided with a variety of colors including green, blue and striped. There is also a variation in the leaf shapes, from rounded, saw-toothed to banana shaped. Some varieties are covered with smooth, fine hairs.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Long-lasting
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The clusters of flowers are yellow (rarely white or purple) in a head resembling a small sunflower. The flower clusters contain 10 to 22 small rayless flower heads.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South Africa
Wildlife value
Some plants used by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (butterflies & moths) species as host plants
Attracts
Butterflies; Moths
Play value
Attracts Pollinators; Colorful; Easy to Grow; Textural
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Hanging Baskets; Patio; Pool/Hardscape; Small Space; Walkways
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Rock Garden