‘Blue Chalk Sticks’
Senecio serpens or ‘Blue Chalk Sticks’ is an easy care species makes an excellent ground cover plant for a sunny position. This is a trailing plant that will slowly spread and is regarded as one of the best succulents for use as a ground cover plant.
As a ground cover it can be mass planted and with its turquoise silvery blue leaves and dense growth habit it will quickly cover a large area, making a virtually maintenance free matt.
Senecio serpens can also be grown in containers and a can be a great low care addition to a small sunny patio or balcony.
The plant is native to South Africa and thrives in Australia except in frost prone and tropical humid areas.
The foliage is cylindrical and points upward like little blue sticks of chalk. It will reach a height of around 20 – 25 cm and has a trailing nature. Excellent for growing along a sunny border where it provides year round interest. A dwarf form is available that will reach around 15cm in height.
How To Grow Senecio serpens
Senecio serpens or ‘Blue Chalk Sticks’ is easy care, requiring little to no maintenance. Some remedial pruning after flowering will help maintain a good bushy clump.
Once established this is a drought tolerant easy care plant.
- Choose a sunny position.
- Ensure the soil is well drained or hill up the soil to improve drainage.
- Plant and water in with a liquid seaweed fertiliser.
- Mulch around the plant with small stones or gravel.
- In dry hot periods some water may be requires, always allowing the soil to dry between waterings.
- In good soil no fertiliser will be required, in poorer soil a light application of fertiliser may improve growth. Over fertilisation will cause straggly elongated growth.
Summary Information
- Botanical Name – Senecio serpes
- Common Name – Blue Chalk Sticks
- Family – Aizoaceae
- Position – Full sun to Part Shade, frost free.
- Soil – well drained
- Height – Will reach 15 – 25 cms in height.
- Spread – Will form a clump of 1m or more over time.
- Flowers – Small white flowers.
- Flowering Time – Spring.
- Foliage – Blue/green and upright like fingers.
Landscaping Ideas
Consider planting on a screed or gravelled covered area. The contrasting colours will add a dramatic effect to the foliage and the screed will keep down weeds in between plantings.
A single plant will eventually make a clump of of around 80 cm consider this when determining planting distance.
Excellent for planting in coastal areas where sandy soils provide a free draining environment.
Propagation
This is a plant that is easily propagated from cuttings, both leaf and stem best taken in late summer or early spring.
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3 Top Tips For Growing Senecio Serpens
- SOIL/POTTING MIX
This is a plant that thrives in free-draining soil. In containers use cactus or succulent mix, or you could create your own by combining potting soil with course sand or perlite to enhance drainage. In the garden choose a position that is raised or on a slope so that excess water drains away quickly. - WATERING
This is a succulent plant that once established requires little or infrequent watering. It many climates it will survive on rinfall alone.
Always allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. In winter, reduce watering further, as the plant enters dormancy.
When you do water, do so deeply, ensuring moisture reaches the roots without sitting in water. - LIGHT
Although Senecio serpens will grow in full sun, for best appearance it is best protected from th hot afternoon sun in warmer climate zones.
Good morning sun and bright, or filtered indirect light iduring summer afternoons works well. This prevents leaf scorch the leaves and helps maintaining best foliage color.