Senecio articulatus - Candle Plant

Highlights

Candle Plant (now Baculellum articulatum) (Ozerova & Timonin): A much-loved oddity with sausage-shaped, segmented stems topped with deeply lobed leaves. It shows lovely blue-green and purple tones and naturally sheds all of its leaves in spring. It rarely blooms but can produce foul-smelling yellow flowers that are easily removed. In its natural habitat in South Africa it grows in sprawling clusters. It loses its leaves and goes dormant in summer, but re-sprouts in time for winter.

PLEASE NOTE: This plant has had shipping issues for certain customers. It has fragile leaves and may take an extended time to recover from shipping.

Soft succulents will not survive a hard frost, but if there is a risk of freezing temperatures they can be brought indoors to grow on a sunny window sill or under a grow light. They need bright sunlight, great drainage, and infrequent water to prevent rot. Pick containers with drainage holes and use well-draining cactus and succulent soil with 50% to 70% mineral grit such as coarse sand, pumice, or perlite. Water deeply enough for water to run out the drainage hole, then wait for the soil to fully dry before watering again.

Full Senecio Guide

Product Size

2.0" Pot

Current Primary Color

Silver

All Seasonal Colors

Green, Purple / Black

Bloom Color

Yellow Bloom

Grow Zone (Hardiness)

Zone 10 (30F)

Recommended Light Conditions

Bright Indoor Light, Full Sun

Maximum Height

Over 12"

Growth Habit / Shape

Vertical Grower / Tall Stem

Seasonality

Summer Dormant Partial

Special Characteristic

Easy to Propagate, Lots of Offsets

THIS PLANT IS HARDY IN ZONES 10+

10

WHAT IS MY HARDINESS ZONE?

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Popular Questions

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2 years ago

Can I plant this in pot with no drainage hole if I put rock in first See answer

I have a pot with no drainage holes can I put rock on the bottom for drainage See more »

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2 years ago  •  Staff Answer

It's not that you can't plant this in a pot with no drainage hole. You just have to be much more careful not to overwater because more water is going to stick around longer. Click the link below to see our tips on growing succulents in pots without drainage holes.

Unfortunately, the rock won't help. In fact, it'll actually increase the chance of root rot because it can make pockets of moisture that take too long to dry.
Source: https://mountaincrestgardens.com/faqs... See full answer »

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1 year ago

do you water this plant during dormant season? See answer

does the candle plant need water during the dormant time See more »

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1 year ago  •  Staff Answer

That depends on your growing conditions. In fact, it's best to let the plant answer that question for you. If you see signs of thirst (stem wrinkling or floppiness), go ahead and give it some water. If your soil is gritty, and your pot has drainage holes, it'll be fine. See full answer »

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2 years ago

what does "limited" mean on your plants? See answer

i'm not sure wether limited means seasonal or it'll never come back. See more »

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2 years ago  •  Staff Answer

The [limited] tag means that you can only order a limited number of those plants per order. How many you can order varies between limited plants anywhere from 1 to 5. See full answer »

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3 years ago

What size String of Pearls plant is this? See answer

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3 years ago  •  Staff Answer

This String of Pearls comes fully rooted in a 2" pot and resembles the stem lengths in the product photo. We also grow a larger String of Pearls in a 3.5" pot, linked below.
On any product, if you scroll down to the Product Details, you'll see a field on the right called Product Size that will list the pot size for that plant.
Source: https://mountaincrestgardens.com/sene... See full answer »

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3 years ago

Are any of these Senecio plants safe for pets? See answer

I’m trying to find a trailing succulent for my home, and wondered if this plant is pet safe? I have dogs and cats. See more »

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3 years ago  •  Staff Answer

Some research shows that Senecio rowleyanus can cause digestive issues if consumed, so to be on the safe side, we do not consider any Senecio pet-safe. But we carry tons of Pet Safe Succulents here. You can also use the Growth Habit filter on the left to filter for just Hanging/Trailing plants.
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3 years ago

CAN YOU PLANT STRING OF BANANA AND STRING OF PEARLS TOGETHER See answer

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6 months ago  •  Staff Answer

Yes you can! Strings of Things Succulents have the same sun, water, and drainage needs, so they're very compatible together in a pot. They work well planted in a hanging pot with succulent potting soil, hanging in a sunny window. Water deeply enough for water to run out the pot's drainage hole, but only water after the soil is completely dry and the leaves are starting to look a little deflated. See full answer »

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3 years ago

How do you propagate String of pearls? See answer

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3 years ago  •  Staff Answer

String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) can be propagated and re-rooted from stem cuttings without much difficulty. Stem cuttings should be placed on well-draining soil in a sunny spot and kept watered but not soggy. You can watch a quick video guide on Propagating Senecio String of Pearls here.
Source: https://youtu.be/bx8voyWV_3w?t=605 See full answer »

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2 years ago

is it safe to mist string of pearls with 70% isopropyl alcohol? See answer

Why is it necessary to mist succulents with isopropol alcohol? See more »

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2 years ago  •  Staff Answer

Yes, 70% isopropyl alcohol is useful for killing insect pests that attack succulents, especially soft bodied insect pests like mealybugs, aphids, and thrips.

It is safe to mist succulents with 70% isopropyl alcohol, but, be sure to keep them out of direct sunlight for an hour after misting. The alcohol increases the risk of sunburn until it evaporates. Applying it in the evening is also a great strategy. See full answer »

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9 months ago

How big a pot size do you recommend for a "string of pearls" plant? See answer

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7 months ago  •  Staff Answer

For one of these 2" String of Pearls plants, we recommend starting with a pot that's about 3.5"-5" in diameter and depth. Additionally, be sure to use a pot with a drainage hole. See full answer »

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1 year ago

Do you need to repot the String of Pearls when it is received? See answer

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7 months ago  •  Staff Answer

Yes, it is a good practice for plant hygiene to re-pot any plant you buy into a fresh pot and soil. We recommend transplanting them within about a month of receiving your new succulents. Pick a container with a drainage hole and use a gritty, well-draining succulent soil. Hang your String of Pearls in a sunny window and only water after the soil is completely dry and the leaves look a little deflated. For more information, check out the Video Guide to Transplanting Succulents.
Source: https://youtu.be/GM63i2bFs80 See full answer »

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