Kleinia ficoides (Blue Chalk Stick, Flat-leaved Senecio, Silver Senecio)


Botanical Information

FamilyAsteraceae
GenusKleinia
Speciesficoides
CategoryTropicals
OriginSouth Africa (Northern Cape, Namaqualand, Alexander Bay).

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone11
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness ZoneCool season protection under glass.
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH1
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)10
Temperature (°F)20
Height1 m
Spread0.5 m
GrowthMedium

Description and Growing Information

LandscapeCommonly used as groundcover, as a specimen, in rock gardens or as a part of a potted succulent collection.
PropagationBy cuttings.
CultivationPlant in well-drained, mildly acidic to mildly alkaline soils under full sun to partial shade.
Bark/Stem DescriptionFleshy stems 8 - 12 mm in diameter with some leaf scars.
Leaf DescriptionExtremely tapered, waxy succulent foliage measuring 8 - 15 cm long, 5 - 7 mm wide and up to 15 mm thick.
Flower DescriptionSmall flowers that are corymbose at the summit growing at the ends of branches. Grow as 9 - 15 disc florets.
Fruit DescriptionSmall downy fruit.
Colour DescriptionChalky bluish-green foliage. Stems are the same colour terminally but fade to a brownish-green closer to the root. Cream-coloured flowers.

Photographs