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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Asteraceae (Sunflowers) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: White |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Synonyms: [Kleinia ficoides, Senecio aizoides, Hort.] |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 4-6 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Senecio ficoides (Large Kleinia) - Large succulent with stout 3 to 5 foot long stems that arch upwards and snake along the ground bearing 3 to 6 inch long narrow blue-green leaves that are flat on the upper surface and round keeled below and end in a soft yet sharp looking tip. Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil where it requires very little irrigation. Has proven hardy to 25° F and likely will go a bit lower. This is the largest of the gray succulent leaf senecios that include Senecio cylindricus, Senecio mandraliscae and Senecio serpens but this a bigger plant than these others and the leaves are flatter, a bit like Senecio crassisimus but narrower and more well-spaced along the stem. This plant grows naturally around the Northern Cape, Namaqualand, Alexander Bay in eastern South Africa. It is also commonly called Flat-leaved Senecio, Silver Senecio and Big Blue chalk sticks. The name for the genus comes from the Latin word 'senex' meaning "old" or "old man" in reference to its downy head of seeds and the specific epithet is from the pre-Linnean name for plants in the genus Mesembryanthemum, which this plant superficially resembles. We have grown this plant since 2010 and previously listed it as Senecio aizoides. This is one of the parents of Senecio 'Jolly Gray'. Both of these plants came to us from the garden of John Bleck and we also grow a selection of this species called Senecio ficoides 'Mount Everest' .
The information on this page is based on our library and online research as well as observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in the nursery garden and in other gardens that we have visited. We have also incorporated comments received from others and always appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have some additional information, in particular if this information is contrary to what we have written or includes additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing Senecio ficoides.
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