Ruby Necklace

Ruby Necklace (Othonna capensis 'Ruby Necklace') is a trailing succulent that earns its place on colour alone. Bean shaped leaves hang from wiry purple stems, and in strong light the whole plant flushes ruby and bronze rather than staying plain green. It sits about 15cm high and spreads to around 60cm, so it spills over a pot rim or a rockery edge, and small yellow daisy flowers open through the warmer months.

Why you'll love it

• The colour responds to light. More sun means deeper ruby stems and leaves. In shade it stays green, so you control the look by where you put it.
• Made for a pot edge. Long trailing stems drape over a container, hanging basket or balcony rail without any training.
• Drought is not a problem. The leaves store water, so it copes with heat and missed waterings better than almost anything else you can hang.
• Fast to fill out. A single tube covers a decent patch of pot surface within a season, and stems that touch soil root readily.

Where it works best

Pots, baskets and balconies. This is its best use. A raised pot or hanging basket in full sun shows the trailing habit properly, and salt tolerance means a windy coastal balcony suits it.

Groundcover and rockeries. Plant 30cm apart for quick succulent groundcover. Between rocks or along a hot dry edge it forms a low mat that needs no mowing and very little water.

Indoors. A bright windowsill works, though the stems stretch and the colour fades without strong light. Expect green rather than ruby indoors.

Growing ruby necklace in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to bright light for the best colour. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid to semi-arid gardens. It is frost tender, so in cool temperate and inland gardens grow it in a pot that can move under cover for winter.

Soil. Free draining above all else. A cactus and succulent mix, or potting mix opened up with coarse sand and perlite. In the ground it needs a raised bed or a gravelly bank, never heavy clay.

Water and feed. Soak the mix, then let it dry right through before the next drink: roughly every two weeks in summer and monthly in winter. Wet feet in cool weather is the one thing that kills it. A half strength liquid feed twice over spring and summer is plenty.

Pruning. Trim stems back whenever they get straggly, which encourages branching near the crown. The cuttings root in a fortnight pushed straight into damp mix, so one plant becomes many.

What to expect when it arrives

Ruby Necklace is grown as tube stock. Plants arrive young, with a few short trailing stems rather than a full cascade, which is normal for a succulent sold at this size and the reason it is such good value. Give it one warm season in a pot and it will be spilling over the edge.

Succulents travel well because the leaves carry their own water. Leave the plant somewhere bright for a few days before the first water. 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

• Browse the full succulent range
• Trailing plants for walls and raised edges
• Plants suited to rockeries
• Balcony and courtyard plants

Common questions

Why has mine gone green instead of red?

Not enough light. The ruby colouring is a stress response to strong sun, so move it somewhere brighter and the colour returns over a few weeks.

How often should I water it?

Roughly every two weeks in the warm months and monthly in winter, and only once the mix is dry through. Shrivelled leaves mean too little, mushy stems mean too much.

Will it survive frost?

No. It is frost tender and will collapse in a hard frost. In cold districts keep it in a pot and move it under cover or indoors over winter.