Senecio Silver Gleam

Senecio Silver Gleam is a new hybrid Cineraria selected for its vigour and improved resistance to bad weather. Its large lobed, velvety, beautiful silver-grey leaves will enhance all the flowers in the garden and give you either a contrast of textures and colours, or harmony in white or pastel compositions. 'Silver Gleam' is not very hardy and is normally grown as an annual in cold and humid climates, or in pots for overwintering. In the garden, this senecio tolerates any well-drained, even poor soil,  and dry summers, requiring no watering once established.

Senecio 'Silver Gleam' is a recent hybrid, probably a descendant of the Senecio cineraria var. candicans, now renamed Jacobaea maritima. This species has almost white, beautifully cut foliage, and is known as the maritime cineraria. It is native to the Mediterranean basin, where it is often found rooted in the sand among rocks, not far from the sea. All Senecio belong to the Asteraceae family. Maritime cineraria is adapted to salt spray and summer drought and does not tolerate cold and humid winters, especially in heavy soils.

'Silver Gleam' has larger, less cut leaves, which are beautifully lobed and can resemble oak leaves in shape. It is a fast-growing, bushy undershrub, as wide as it is tall,  whose stems will not become too woody. When grown in a pot, it will reach about 30-35 cm (12-14in) in all directions; in the ground, it will spread more. Its stems and leaves are covered with a soft downy fuzz giving them a silver-grey colour, which is greener when wet. As is often the case with plants with grey, white, or silver foliage, the leaves will be lighter in drier conditions. This foliage persists all year round, even in winter, in mild climates.

It flowers briefly from June to September, depending on the climate, in the form of branching umbels of many small dark yellow to mustard yellow flower heads, which can be removed to avoid exhausting the plant. The seeds are easily dispersed by the wind, thanks to their large bristly bristles.

This senecio goes well with all other plants, shrubs, perennials or annuals, modest or voluptuous, bright or soft coloured, dark foliage, white flower beds... It also makes beautiful containers with Pennisetum (x) advena Rubrum, Velvet Curtains amaranths, or red and bright pink geraniums. It is a good plant for dry or seaside gardens, for example in large silver beds, wirh artemisias, Centaurea pulcherrima, curry plant, or Atriplex. With red bushy salvias or magenta rose campions, 'Silver Gleam' will create a rich harmony.