-
Description
The plant you are describing is the delightful Senecio herreianus, most commonly known as the String of Beads, String of Watermelons, or String of Tears. It is a very popular trailing succulent, appreciated for its unique, bead-like foliage.
🌵 The String of Watermelons
This Senecio is a perennial, trailing succulent native to Namibia and South Africa, known for its rapid growth and unusual structure.
-
Foliage and Form: The most distinctive feature is its foliage, which consists of small, fleshy, pea-sized, bead-like leaves, each featuring a slight, teardrop shape and often subtle, translucent stripes, giving rise to the name "String of Watermelons." The leaves grow along thin, trailing stems, cascading beautifully over the edge of a pot. The leaves are typically a bright, fresh green color. This is an evergreen succulent.
-
Size: Your specimen stands at approximately 20cm tall and is delivered in a 12cm pot. Due to its trailing nature, the height often refers to the length of the stems or the vertical drop from the pot.
-
Flowering and Fragrance: It occasionally produces small, white or creamy-white flowers that emerge on short stalks from the trailing stems. These flowers often have a spicy, cinnamon-like fragrance.
☀️ Care and Requirements
As a trailing succulent, the String of Beads requires care similar to cacti and other desert plants, with a focus on good drainage and bright light.
-
Light/Placement: It thrives in bright light, including several hours of direct morning sun. Placing it near a south or west-facing window is ideal. Bright light is necessary to keep the foliage compact and healthy. Insufficient light will cause the "beads" to become sparse and stringy.
-
Watering: Water requirements are minimal. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings, reducing the frequency significantly during the cooler winter months. Overwatering is the most common cause of failure.
-
Soil: It requires well-draining soil, such as a specialized mix for cacti and succulents.
Note: Plants in the Senecio genus are generally considered toxic if ingested by humans or pets. It is best to admire this plant's beauty and keep the trailing stems out of reach of curious animals and children.