SENECIO mandraliscae (KLEINIA comptonii, CURIO talinoides mandraliscae)

Simple and rustic succulent, perennial and evergreen, fast growing and ground covering, native to South Africa: at the maximum of its development and in full bloom it can grow 40 cm tall and much larger. Already well branched from the base, it has numerous glaucous colored thick and fleshy stems, with an initial erect trend: soon, dividing repeatedly, these bend towards the ground and crawl on it in every direction, often emitting new roots at the level of the foliar nodes. Leaves, juicy and glabrous, spindle-shaped and cylindrical, sometimes slightly arched, with acute apex, gray-green and dark longitudinally, blooming stripes, are arranged alternately, with very short internodes, almost completely covering the branches: looking similar to pencils or chalks, they made the plant deserve the common name “plant of blue chalk sticks”. Between the end of summer and autumn, in the terminal part of the stems, loose and wide inflorescences appear, supported by long and thin stems, made up of minute whitish flowers without petals: if fertilized, the seeds that follow, thin and long, are equipped with a showy "pappus", a tuft of hair that facilitates its dispersion into the surrounding environment through the wind, and which by the botanical classifiers of the past has been read as "hoary head" hence the genus name attributed to the plant.

It prefers very sunny positions but it also adapts to partial shade; it requires poor, dry, sandy and above all well-drained soils as it fears water stagnation. It tolerates even protracted periods of drought and bears the typical salinity of the sea winds of coastal locations. It stands minimum winter temperatures only a few degrees below zero: in regions characterized by intense and prolonged cold and high atmospheric humidity, it is advisable to place it in a sheltered place or mulch it with straw, bark or leaves, or guarantee it shelter in a cool and bright environment in winter. It does not require special cares: in spring at the vegetative restart remove dry, broken, old, damaged or cluttered portions and sometimes shorten some stems to stimulate their thicker and more compact growth. Perfect to be cultivated on hanging gardens, terraces and balconies, even in containers of modest size, taking particular care of the drainage: think about it in suspended pots from which it can fall gently or in a bowl mixed with other succulents with contrasting foliage. In the open ground in the garden as well as being a precious completion of our rocks, or hanging from dry stone walls or carpet at the base of erect cacti, use it to create low borders with very easy maintenance and a sure decorative effect in every season of the year.