Ruby Necklace Hanging Basket

Ruby Necklace (Othonna capensis 'Ruby Necklace') is the trailing succulent to reach for when a pot needs something to spill over the edge. The plant itself is only about 15cm high and 60cm across, but the stems hang well past that and turn deep purple red where the sun hits them. Slim blue green leaves run the length of every strand, with small yellow daisy flowers along the way.

Why you'll love it

• The ruby stems are the whole point. Colour deepens in strong light and lean conditions. Given shade and heavy watering it simply stays green and stretches.
• Made to be given an edge to fall over. Strands trail 60cm or more from a basket, so it reads as a curtain rather than a mound.
• Drought and heat tolerant. The fleshy leaves hold their own water, so it shrugs off a hot balcony that cooks other trailers.
• Fast and low maintenance. It fills a hanging basket within a season, then keeps going with almost no attention.

Where it works best

Pots, baskets and courtyards. Hanging baskets and tall pots suit it best, since height is what lets the strands show.

Groundcover. Plant 30cm apart in a sunny, free draining bed and it knits into a low mat. It is a cover for edges and hot narrow strips, not for foot traffic.

Rockeries and retaining walls. Tuck it into a gap near the top of a wall and let the stems run down over the stone, where the colour shows best.

Growing Ruby Necklace in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to light shade. It is frost tender, so outdoors it belongs in subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean, arid and semi-arid gardens. In cool temperate or frost prone areas grow it in a pot and shift it under cover for winter.

Soil. A free draining cactus and succulent mix, or potting mix opened up with coarse sand, in a pot with a drainage hole. Rich, water holding mixes cause more losses than neglect ever will.

Water and feed. Soak it, let the mix dry right through, then soak again. A half strength liquid feed twice through spring and summer is plenty.

Pruning. Pinch the tips to push branching and keep the basket full rather than stringy. Every trimmed piece will root in the same pot if you press it into the mix.

What to expect when it arrives

Plants are supplied as tube stock: young, with a handful of short strands rather than a finished basket. Potted up into a 200mm hanging basket it will cover the rim in a season and start trailing properly in the second.

Succulents travel well, though expect a few strands to arrive bent. Leave it somewhere bright and sheltered for a week before the first proper watering. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• A gardener's guide to growing succulents
• Browse the full succulent range
• Best trailing plants for a retaining wall
• Plants for balconies and courtyards

Common questions

Why are my stems green instead of red?

Too little light, too much water, or both. The ruby tone is a stress response, so move it into stronger sun, stretch the gap between waterings, and the colour usually returns within a few weeks.

How often should I water it?

Only once the mix has dried right through: about every one to two weeks in summer, monthly in winter. Soft, translucent leaves mean too much water, not too little.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

We do not list it as pet friendly, because toxicity in this species is not well documented. Treat it as unknown and hang it out of reach if your pet chews foliage.

Can I leave it outside all year?

Only in frost free gardens. In cool temperate districts keep it in a pot on a covered verandah, or bring it indoors to a bright window over winter.