With amazingly bold foliage Senecio amaniensis is a hardy succulent for container or garden.
Large spoon shaped leaves, green with intense red to pink edges and flushes, the color of the foliage ismore intense in cooler climates and winter. An added attraction are the orange to red flowers that appear on a spike above the foliage in summer.
Reaching around 40 cm in height, this is drought tolerant succulent once established. Easy to grow in containers where the brilliant foliage can be shown off. Also suited to mass planting as a ground cover plant in a well drained soil.
Try using this foliage plant for underplanting taller growing stemmed succulents.
Senecio amaniensis Care
Good drainage is essential, when growing in containers use a specialist succulent potting mix. In the garden raise the garden bed to improve drainage, or add extra drainage material if required. If prolonged wet conditions are encountered, especially during winter this cause the root system to rot.
Foliage colour varies with soil and temperature. Cold winters seem to intensify the the amount of red around the edges of the leaves. For best foliage colour do not over fertilise.
If you are growing this plant in a container, you will need to repot every three to four years as the potting mix begins to deteriorate. This is also a good time to propagate the plant by division. The best time to do this is in early spring as the weather warms a little
Summary Description
- Height – Will reach around 35 – 50 cm in height.
- Spread – To 40 cm
- Position – Best grown in full sun.
- Soil – Well drained is essential, use a cactus and succulent potting mix for container growing.
- Foliage – Pale green with strong red to pink flushes.
- Flower – Orange,
- Flowering period – Summer.
- Drought tolerant – Yes, once established
- Frost tolerant – No