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Products > Senecio ficoides 'Tall Towers'
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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Asteraceae (Sunflowers) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: White |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Synonyms: [Curio ficoides, Senecio aizoides, Hort.] |
| Height: 3-4 feet |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Senecio ficoides 'Tall Towers' (Tall Senecio) - An upright evergreen succulent plant that will likely grow to 3 to 4 feet tall by 1 to 2 feet wide shrub, branching at the base with multiple vertical stems holding 3 to 5 inch long flattened lanceolate to sickle shaped gray-green succulent leaves. Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil where it requires very little irrigation. The species Senecio ficoides has proven hardy to 25° F and likely this cultivar will prove as hardy. It is listed as resistant to deer predation and its succulent nature makes it both drought tolerant and resistant to burning, so a good choice with other succulents in dry gardens were wildfires are a concern. Like its parent plant, its unique upright form should make it best suited to a large container or possibly planted in a corner or even used as a low hedge. This plant was grown from seed that was collected from the patented variety Senecio ficoides 'Mount Everest' PP22,188, which we also grow. The resulting seedlings were evaluated, with this one chosen for its good color and upright growth habit. The species Senecio ficoides grows naturally around the Northern Cape, Namaqualand, Alexander Bay in eastern South Africa. Besides large Kleinia it is also commonly called Flat-leaved Senecio, Silver Senecio and Big Blue Chalk Sticks. The name for the genus comes from the Latin word 'senex' meaning "old" or "old man" in reference to its downy head of seeds and the specific epithet is from the pre-Linnean name for plants in the genus Mesembryanthemum, which this plant superficially resembles. Recent treatment of this plant in the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew databases has the current name of this plant as Curio ficoides (L.) P.V. Heath but in the most current written reference we have available, The Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Dicotyledons edited by Urs Eggli (2002), the contributor for this section, Gordon Rowley, lists Senecio ficoides (Linné) Schulz-Bipontinus as the correct name Since this plant has long been in the California nursery trade as Senecio ficoides, we continue to use this name until such time as the newer names become better recognized. The genus name Curio means "to lean" in reference to several related species with a leaning or decumbent habit. For more information about the species, see our listing of Senecio ficoides.
This information about Senecio ficoides 'Tall Towers' displayed is based on research conducted in our library and from reliable online resources. We will also note observations that we have made about it as it grows in the gardens in our nursery and those elsewhere, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others, and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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