String of Pearls

String of Pearls (Curio rowleyanus, long sold as Senecio rowleyanus) is the trailing succulent that does the work of a curtain. Strands of pea sized leaves spill to about 90cm from a hanging basket while the plant itself stands barely 20cm tall. Water it every two to three weeks and otherwise leave it alone. The leaves and sap are toxic to cats and dogs.

Why you'll love it

• Long trailing strands. Growth hangs to roughly 90cm, enough to frame a window or drop over a high shelf within a couple of seasons.
• It wants to be forgotten. Drought and heat tolerant, so a fortnight away costs it nothing. Overwatering is the only real risk.
• Small flowers with a real scent. Tiny white brush flowers appear in the warmer months, carrying a distinct cinnamon fragrance up close.
• It suits hard, hot positions. Bright balconies, sheltered courtyards and rockery pockets in subtropical, Mediterranean and arid gardens.

Where it works best

Indoors in a hanging basket. Bright indirect light within a metre of a window is ideal. Grown inside, your climate stops mattering, which counts for a plant this frost tender.

Balconies and courtyards. In subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens it lives outside year round, provided it sits under cover from heavy rain and out of hard afternoon sun.

Rockeries and raised edges. Planted at the top of a rockery pocket or a low wall, the strands cascade over the face. Frost free positions only.

Growing String of Pearls in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light indoors, or morning sun with afternoon shade outdoors. Midday sun through glass scorches the pearls, and deep shade stretches the strands. It is frost tender, so anywhere that frosts it needs a pot that comes under cover for winter.

Soil. A free draining cactus and succulent mix, or potting mix opened up with coarse sand. The basket must have a drainage hole. Roots are shallow, so a wide shallow pot beats a deep one.

Water and feed. Soak the mix, drain it, then wait until it is dry all the way through: every two to three weeks in warm weather, every four to six in winter. Shrivelled pearls mean thirsty. Soft, translucent pearls mean too wet.

Pruning. Trim any strand that runs too long or goes bare, then lay the cutting across the mix. It roots where the nodes touch, which is how you thicken a sparse basket.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown as tube stock, so you are buying a young plant with a few short strands rather than a finished hanging basket. That is the fastest route to a full basket: set three to five tubes around the rim of a 200mm to 250mm hanging pot and they knit together within a season.

Few plants travel better than a succulent, because the leaves carry their own water. Expect a quiet week, and do not water until the mix has dried right through. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to keep your indoor plants alive
• Browse the wider succulent range
• Choosing the right size pot for your plant
• Plants that suit balconies and small spaces

Common questions

Why are my pearls shrivelling?

Almost always underwatering, or a mix that has dried so hard it repels water. Soak the basket until water runs from the base, and the pearls plump within days. If they are soft and see through instead, the cause is the opposite.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. The leaves and sap are toxic to cats and dogs, and chewing brings on drooling, vomiting and mouth irritation. Hang it well above floor level, or choose a different trailing plant if your pet chews foliage.

Can I grow it outdoors?

Only in a frost free garden. Subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid climates suit it. Everywhere else it should live in a pot that moves under cover before the first cold snap.