Senecio serpens Blue Chalk

Senecio serpens 'Blue Chalk' is a succulent plant with a unique and sculptural bluish foliage, often used in the design of large Mediterranean rock gardens. It is a low and branched plant that spreads over time as a large ground cover if given enough space. Its late flowering, in the form of white-cream heads, is nondescript. This South African plant can only tolerate a few degrees of frost if the soil is very well-drained. Cultivating it in a large pot, in light soil, presents no difficulty and allows it to be protected from frost in winter.

Senecio serpens 'Blue Chalk', known as "Blue Chalksticks", is a small bushy plant from the Asteraceae family native to South Africa. Forming a low and highly branched bush, 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20in) in height, this Senecio spreads over 2 metres (7 feet) over time, with its long prostrate and fleshy, well-branched stems. The growth of this plant occurs at a regular, rather fast pace, favoured by rainfall, mainly at the end of summer and in spring. The branches bear long, narrow, tapering, succulent, upright, very blue leaves, covered with a waxy film and a white bloom to resist heat and drought. Flowering usually occurs at the end of summer from August to September to early December. Leafy, branched floral stems, 30 cm (12in) tall, rise among the foliage, bearing small cream-white, nondescript inflorescences at their tips.

Sensitive to cold, this Senecio serpens Blue Chalk seems able to withstand -6°C (21.2°F) in very well-drained or even dry soil in winter. Therefore, the plant can only be cultivated in open ground in very mild climates. On warm coasts, it is planted under large palm trees as a ground cover, or in large rock gardens alongside Agaves, Opuntia, Cactus, and other succulent plants. Fortunately, it is easy to grow in a large pot anywhere else. The key is to ensure good drainage at the bottom of the pot and provide it with very light, well-drained soil. In this case, watering in summer will be particularly appreciated. Remember to store it away from frost in winter, in a bright, well-ventilated, cool place, reducing watering significantly.