Senecio stapeliaformis

Description: Senecio stapeliiformis (Sometimes spelled Senecio stapeliaeformis or stapeliformis) is an attractive succulent species with prettily marked pencil-like stems with purple-green patterns and soft spines along the sides, the whole recalling a Stapelia in form (hence the name), but has a large orange hawkweed-like flower. Underground shoots emerge to form erect.
Habit: It is a perennial succulent, with erect to reclining stems branched from the base with rhizomes stems some of which travel underground before emerging.

Cultivation and Propagation: Senecio stapeliiformis is a fast grower, good succulent ground cover in frost free zones and also a great container plant for full sun to partial shade. It is probably a winter grower and need water from October, when the new leaves can be seen forming on the growing tip In April the leaves begin to go yellow and drop off, so now it rests quite dry in to summer. But others suggest to water it moderately all year round as it tends to be an opportunistic plant that tend to grow in each time of the year whenever it has enough water in fair weather and rest when temperatures are too hot or too cool and may have several or sometimes no growth cycles in a year. It must be grown very hard in the nursery as close to the natural conditions as possible. This ensures that it keeps its compact habit. Due to it’s cascading growth habit it is excellent in a hanging basket or tall pot.
Soil: Give the plant a well drained, airy, growing medium which mainly consists of non organic material such us clay, pumice, lava grit, and only a little peat or leaf-mould.
Irrigation: It prefers to be on the dry side with good but infrequent waterings but looks best with regular watering in hot months. Less water during winter. No water should ever be allowed to stand around the roots. These plants rot off very quickly if over watered.