Succulent Bush Senecio: Unique beautiful succulent houseplants
Image Source: Olaf Leillinger / CC BY-SA (Image Cropped)
Succulent Bush Senecio are the succulent plants, resistant to harsh climatic conditions. They are easy to grow, propagate and maintain. The yellow bright flowers add beauty to the garden or the interior. It is a difficult to kill and low maintenance indoor/ outdoor plant.
Quick Details of Succulent Bush Senecio
| Other Common Names | Barberton Senecio, Barberton Coltsfoot, Lemon Bean Bush, Finger-Leaved Senecio, Barberton Groundsel |
| Type | Indoor/outdoor plant |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Flowering | Winter |
| Light | Bright direct sunlight, can survive partial indirect light |
| Water | When the soil is dry |
| Temperature | Can survive extreme conditions |
| Soil | Well drained sandy soil |
| Fertilizer | Any house plant fertilizer |
| Habitat | South Africa |
| Toxicity | The whole plant is toxic especially for pets. |
| Common Diseases | Root rot |
| Scientific name | Senecio barbertonicus |
Succulent Bush Senecio Buying Instructions
- Plant should have minimal or no dry leaves.
- Buy a bushy plant with multiple branches.
- This plant does not grow much in pots so buy a plant of required size as per your decoration need.
- Buy a healthy plant with not patches on leaves.
Overview of Succulent Bush Senecio
Bush Senecio is an evergreen succulent shrub belonging to the family Asteraceae and native to South Africa.
They are drought resistant plants with fleshy fingers like long green leaves which are bent pointing upwards.
Image Source: Olaf Leillinger / CC BY-SA (Image Cropped)
The plants usually flower during winter and produce bright, yellow flowers. The stems of the plant are initially green when young but turn brown as they mature.
Special features: Bush Senecio are drought resistant plants and can survive in climatic conditions up to -4ºc
Usage and Advantage of Succulent Bush Senecio
- It is mainly grown as an ornamental plant.
- Since they have bright attractive yellow flowers, the plants are the best option to be grown in butterfly gardens.
General Care for Succulent Bush Senecio
Special Care
The Bush Senecio plant can be pruned to maintain the shape. Pruning is usually done early spring. The tips of the stems can be cut out when the plants grow tall and start to droop. These stem cuttings can be further used for propagation.
Soil
Bush Senecio can grow in a wide range of pH range. The plants require a well-drained sandy soil with a slightly acidic or alkaline pH. They can even be grown in poor soil conditions.
Water
Bush Senecio are drought resistant and can survive without regular watering. The watering should be done in such a way that the soil is wet but not moist. During winters, the interval of watering should be reduced when compared to spring or summer. It can be watered only when the soil is dry.
Light and temperature
The Bush Senecio plants prefer dry conditions and require direct sunlight for at least 4-6 hours a day. They can survive in heat but are not tolerant to cold. During winters the plant should be shifted indoors to a warmer place.
Fertilizer
Bush Senecio can be fertilized annually. Excess fertilizer can lead to too much growth.
Pests and other problems for Succulent Bush Senecio
The Bush Senecio plants are not prone to diseases or pests. During winter, when the flowers bloom it may attract insects.
Over watering can lead to root rot.
Propagation of Succulent Bush Senecio
The Bush Senecio are propagated through softwood cuttings and leaf cutting.
The cuttings can be kept aside for a day or two to develop callus before replanting them. The best time to propagate is during summer or spring (growth period). The soil should be maintained moist and the pot should be placed somewhere where there is partial to direct sunlight.
The cutting can be made from the main soft wood, or a leaf can be taken and planted. The cuttings should be watered regularly till they develop into a new plant. Fresh green stems or leaves are chosen for propagation.
