String of Pearls
Senecio rowleyanus
📖 About this plant
One of the most captivating trailing houseplants, featuring long, slender stems adorned with perfectly round, pea-sized leaves that resemble a string of green pearls. Each pearl is actually a modified leaf with a translucent window (epidermal window) that allows light to penetrate for photosynthesis. Best displayed in a high hanging basket where the cascading strands can trail freely.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Bright indirect (4-6 hrs)
Every 2-3 weeks
Low (30-40%)
18-26°C
Light, very well-draining mix; blend of potting soil, perlite, and coarse sand in equal parts
Balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to quarter strength every 4-6 weeks during spring and summer only
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Southwest Africa — arid regions of Namibia; grows as a ground cover in rocky areas
- 📏 Max height
- 5-15 cm (trailing stems can exceed 120 cm)
- 📐 Spread
- 60-120 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Summer
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Bright Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Toxic to cats and dogs if ingested — contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause liver damage; non-toxic to humans
- 🌱 Propagation
- Stem cuttings of 10-15 cm; lay cuttings on moist soil — pearls will root along the stem; very easy
🛡️ Health & Safety
Toxic to cats and dogs if ingested — contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause liver damage; non-toxic to humans
Common issues
- Root rot from overwatering
- Mealybugs on stems
- Stem shriveling from underwatering
- Spider mites
💡 Care tips
- Trailing succulent perfect for hanging baskets
- Water from the bottom to avoid rotting the pearl-like leaves
- Provide bright indirect light for compact pearl formation
- Leaves shriveling means the plant needs watering
