Blue Falls Succulent

Blue Falls Succulent (Senecio radicans 'Blue Falls') is a trailing succulent with long stems of fleshy, banana-shaped leaves in silvery blue. It stays about 30cm high but trails to 1m, with leaves a little longer and thinner than the similar String of Beans. It is a fun hanging basket and indoor plant, and in a mass planting it makes a dramatic silver-blue carpet.

Why you'll love it

• Silvery blue foliage. The slender leaves read as cool blue-silver against green plants and dark pots, which makes them a handy colour accent.
• Trails up to a metre. Stems spill over the edge of a basket or wall in long, easy curtains.
• Waterwise once settled. After about 12 weeks of establishment it needs water only when the soil has dried out.
• Works indoors or out. It is happy in bright light or dappled shade, on a sheltered patio or a sunny indoor shelf.
• A good partner for dry gardens. It looks right beside other waterwise and drought tolerant plants, and it is effective as a groundcover.

Where it works best

Hanging baskets and tall pots. Plant three tubes to a 300mm basket and let the stems hang. They trail to about 1m, so hang them where the ends can swing freely.

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 30cm apart on a sunny bank or in a gravel bed, beside other low water plants, and the stems knit into a silver-blue carpet. The effect is bold in a mass.

Indoors. A bright room or a high shelf suits it. Keep it near a window that gets sun for part of the day.

Growing Blue Falls Succulent in Australia

Position and climate. Bright light or dappled shade suits it, outdoors or inside, but keep it in a sunny position for at least part of the day. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate climates. It is frost tender, so in frost-prone areas grow it in a pot that can come under cover for winter.

Soil. Free-draining soil is the rule. A cactus and succulent mix with a little extra grit is ideal for baskets and pots, and in the garden it needs a gravelly, well drained spot.

Water and feed. Water regularly until the plant is established, usually around 12 weeks. After that, water only when the soil is dry. Overwatering is the commonest cause of failure and shows as soft, translucent leaves.

Pruning. Trim long or bare stems back to a leaf to keep the plant full. Cuttings root readily, so pieces pinned onto the soil are a cheap way to fill gaps.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Blue Falls Succulent as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Expect short trailing stems on arrival that lengthen as it settles in, and plan on around 12 weeks of regular watering before it can dry out between drinks.

The tube is grown for us by our grower, who is not always able to fill it. If it shows as sold out, the notify button on the page will email you the day it is available again.

Plants are 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

• More succulents to plant with it
• Indoor plants for Australian homes
• Trailing plants that soften walls and edges
• Succulent care: soil mix, water and propagation

Common questions

How is it different from String of Beans?

The leaves are silvery blue and a little longer and thinner, where String of Beans has fatter, plain green pods. Care is the same for both.

Is it safe around pets?

No. Senecios contain alkaloids that make them toxic if eaten, so hang it out of reach of cats, dogs and children and do not plant it where animals graze.

Why are the leaves going soft and see-through?

That is overwatering. Let the soil dry out fully between drinks, check that the pot drains freely, and cut back on watering through winter.