Variegated String of Pearls

Variegated String of Pearls (Curio rowleyanus 'Variegatus', still widely sold as Senecio rowleyanus) is the trailing succulent worth hanging at eye level. The plant sits only about 200mm deep in its pot, but the strands run out to around 600mm, so it reads as a curtain of beads rather than a shrub. Each pearl is marbled cream over pale green, which gives it something to look at in every season.

Why you'll love it

• Marbling on every bead. The cream and green pattern holds all year in bright light, so one basket carries a corner on foliage alone.
• It prefers to be left alone. Water only once the mix has dried through. Far more of these are lost to kindness than to neglect.
• Built for height. Hanging pots, high shelves and the top of a retaining wall all let the strands drop clear, which is how it looks best.
• Heat and dry air suit it. African by origin, it takes hot afternoons and the dry air of an air conditioned room without complaint.

Where it works best

Hanging pots and baskets. Hang it so the strands finish clear of a bench or floor, and turn the pot a quarter every few weeks to keep growth even.

Indoors and covered balconies. A spot within a metre of a bright window works anywhere in the country, which matters with a plant this frost tender.

Retaining walls and slopes. Along the top of a wall in free draining soil it spills over the face in warm temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid gardens.

Growing variegated string of pearls in Australia

Position and climate. Bright light with shelter from harsh afternoon sun. Deep shade thins the strands and dulls the cream. It only lives outdoors year round in warm temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid or semi-arid gardens, so colder districts should grow it under cover.

Soil. A cactus and succulent mix, or potting mix opened up with coarse sand. A drainage hole is not optional, and a pot standing in a full saucer rots the strands from the base.

Water and feed. Soak, drain, then wait until the mix is dry through: roughly every two to three weeks in warm weather and every four to six in winter. Shrivelled pearls mean thirst, soft translucent pearls mean the opposite.

Pruning. Cut any bare strand back to the pot and it branches from that point. The trimmings strike easily on fresh mix kept barely damp.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in a single size, tube stock. That is a young plant with several short strands rather than a finished basket, so pot it into a 150mm to 200mm hanging pot and give it a season to drape properly.

Succulents travel well because the leaves carry their own water, though a few loose pearls in the box are normal rather than a fault. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Growing blue chalksticks, a close relative on the same watering schedule.
• Browse the wider succulent range.
• See what else carries variegated foliage.
• Ideas for planting the top of a retaining wall.

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Curio and Senecio species are toxic to cats and dogs, and chewing the pearls brings on drooling, vomiting and stomach upset. Hang it out of reach if your pet chews foliage.

Why are the pearls shrivelling?

Almost always underwatering. Soak the pot until water runs from the base, drain it, and the beads plump up within days. Soft, see through pearls point to the opposite problem.

Can I grow it outside all year?

Only in frost free gardens. In warm temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid districts it lives outdoors under cover. Anywhere that frosts, treat it as an indoor plant.