Senecio crassissimus

vertical leaf senecio
Shrubby upright succulent with waxy leaves on bendy purple stems. Yellow daisy flowers may form in winter at branch tips. Chose protected spots in marine influence areas.
Senecio crassissimus
height 18–24in
width 1–2ft
tolerates Drought, Heat, Pots, Wind
water
needs
Low
water
info
This senecio is from arid areas of the Madagascar spine forest and as such likes to go totally bone dry between waterings, making it a very low-maintenance shrub. To get good healthy growth your plant doesn’t want to sit around totally dried out during its growing season. Once it is dry, water it.

This plant comes from an area with summer rainfall and is actively growing during that time, when it is forgiving of overwatering errors. During winter dormancy it should be kept extra dry and won’t tolerate overwatering. It especially dislikes long cold wet winters.

Remember that if kept in a small pot your plant will want more frequent watering.

Remember your watering schedule will depend on the size of the pot (smaller pots needing more frequent watering) and environmental factors such as the season, weather, humidity and exposure.

Don’t leave succulents in standing water, such as a saucer, for more than a day.
hardy
to
30F
exposure Full Sun
indoor
outdoor
Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing All Purpose
origin Madagascar
california
native
No
sunset
zones
13, 16, 17, 20–24

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

OUTDOOR EXPOSURE GUIDE

Full Sun
Six or more hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Shade
Three to five hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Sun
One to two hours of sun beams directly landing on the plants leaves.

Full Shade
The plant is never fully lit by sun beams, but is in a bright spot or has dappled sunbeams playing over the leaves throughout the day.

Deep Shade
The plant never has dappled light on the leaves, and is in a place that feels dim, even on a nice sunny day.

SUNSET ZONES MAP

Growing Notes

After blooming cut flowers down to the leaf stalks to rejuvenate the shrub.

Special Interest

Curiously, the leaves of this succulent are on a vertical axis, rather than horizontal. This is thought to be an adaptation that prevents water loss from the baking sun of Southern Madagascar.